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Class ^ VC o / 



Book 



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Copyright N", 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



GEN. W. H. L. WALLACE 



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Tr^^^^^^U^^^^-^^f-la. 






LIFE ^ LETTERS 



OF 



GENERAL W H. L. WALLACE 



BY 

ISABEL WALLACE 




CHICAGO 

R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY 

1909 



" True glory consists in doing what deserves to 
be written, in writittg what deserves to be read, and 
in so living as to make the world better and hap- 
pier for our living." — Pliny. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER I 
Parentage — Early Life . i 

CHAPTER II 
Goes to Ottawa. Studies Law 8 

CHAPTER III 
Mexican War — Journey to Mexico 13 

CHAPTER IV 
Marching into Mexico 21 

CHAPTER V 
On the March to Bxiena Vista 32 

CHAPTER VI 
Battle of Buena Vista 40 

CHAPTER VII 
The Illinois Troops Return Home — Wallace Endeavors 
TO Re-enter the Army . 55 

CHAPTER VIII 
Courtship and Marriage 62 

CHAPTER rX 

Dickey and Wallace Against Lovejoy in 1856 and 1858 70 

CHAPTER X 

Lincoln's Nomination — The Feeling in the Country 
Before his Inauguration 87 

CHAPTER XI 

Lincoln's Inauguration — Firing on Sumter — The Coun- 
try Prepares for War. Mr. Wallace Made Colonel . q8 



CONTENTS— Continued 

CHAPTER XII 
Colonel Wallace's Regiment Enlists for the War. The 
Command Moves to Bird's Point, Missouri . . • "S 

CHAPTER XIII 

General Fremont in Command of Western Department. 
Large Rebel Force near Bird's Point . . . .126 

CHAPTER XIV 

Major General Halleck in Command of Western Depart- 
ment. Battle of Belmont 137 

CHAPTER XV 

Capture of Fort Henry and Fort Doktelson . . 150 

CHAPTER XVI 

Congratulatory Correspondence — The Troops Move up 
the Tennessee River to Savannah . . .168 

CHAPTER XVII 

General Wallace's Command Moves to Pittsburg Landing. 
Mrs. Wallace's Journey to Pittsburg Landing . . 179 

CHAPTER XVIII 
Battle of Shiloh . ....... 188 

CHAPTER XIX 
Death and Burial of General Wallace. Pathetic Letter 
OF Mrs. Wallace i97 

CHAPTER XX 

Public Opinion of General Wallace — His Services as an 
Officer — His Character as a Man — Memorial Window. 211 

CHAPTER XXI 
Mrs. Wallace 223 

Index 227 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



General W. H. L. Wallace Frontispiece 

St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans i8 

Battle of Buena Vista ........ 40 

Map of the Battlefield . 43 

The Dickey Home, Ottawa 63 

Autograph Cards of Ward H. Lamon and A. Lincoln . .116 

The Oaks, Home of General Wallace 131 

Flag of the Eleventh Illinois Regiment in the Library at The Oaks 165 

189 
197 
212 
218 
221 
222 
224 



Autograph Letter of General Lew Wallace 

The Cherry Mansion, Savannah, Tennessee 

Monument to General Wallace in the Shiloh National Park . 

Autograph Letter of General Grant ..... 

Drawing of Memorial Window in the Library at The Oaks . 

Biographical Section of Memorial Window 

Mrs. Wallace ........ 



PREFACE 




N the days of chivalry men of action performed 
deeds which were heralded by tuneful bards, thus 
perpetuating noble lives to be admired and emu- 
lated by succeeding generations. All through the 
ages these heroic men appear on the pages of history as 
links in the great chain wrought by the eternal hand of God 
in His plans for the betterment and advancement of the 
human race. 

General W. H. L. Wallace can be called the Chevalier 
Bayard of the North, as was General Kirby-Smith the Chev- 
alier Bayard of the Southern Confederacy. The life of Gen- 
eral Wallace, in the short space of forty-one years, touched on 
some of the great events of American history in the nineteenth 
century, and side-lights from private letters and papers are 
here thrown on these momentous times. 

Some glimpses are also given of the bravery and suffering 
of the women at home during the Civil War with soldier hus- 
bands in the army, a phase not so often dwelt upon as the 
heroic deeds of the men at the front. 

ISABEL WALLACE. 

The Oaks, Ottawa, Illinois. 
August, igog. 



LIFE AND LETTERS 

OF 

GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 



CHAPTER I. 
Parentage and Early Life. 

WILLIAM WALLACE of Illinois resembled William 
Wallace of Scotland in more respects than the 
name. They were alike in devotion to their coun- 
try, for which each gave his life — one dying in a most in- 
human manner by the hands of a foreign foe outside his 
own country; the other by the hands of a foe, 'tis true, his 
own countrymen, but in battle honored and admired by the 
enemy surrounding him no less than by his own soldiers. 
The body of William Wallace of Illinois was laid to rest 
with honor and respect, not cut and placed on poles to be 
jeered at by his enemies, as was the sad fate of the great 
Sir William Wallace of Scotland five hundred years before. 

In another point are they alike — in their devotion to 
home and the beloved wife sheltered there. 

Even in appearance, if history tells true, they again 
meet; both tall, with sandy hair and gray eyes, which be- 
tokens the Scotch ancestry of William Wallace of Illinois. 
Both were Nature's noblemen, firm in duty, gentle and con- 
siderate to all who required their aid — two great souls, akin 
in name no less than in exalted motives. 

In personal appearance William Wallace of Illinois was 
tall, erect, dignified almost to reserve, commanding by 
nature, but simple and unassuming, a gentleman in the 
highest sense of the term. Cowardice and meanness he ab- 
horred and branded them as such in no uncertain words. 
Wrong was wrong and right was right; no glossing over 
for any temporary gain, ever standing firmly for the highest 
ideals. 

[1] 



deepe'rdeT^Sornllnfet ^^^^t the 

acknowledged his suoeriorff J ' ^ ^"""^ ^'' ^"^"ds, who 
wishing to see him aScer^tl.r'^^^^^^^ °^ j^^lo^sy; 

leader, and felt h^norld "n ' " ^ t"* ^r ^""'^^'^ ^s thel; 
soldiers almost iSohLdhSi^foV"lr ^T'"' ^" ^^^ ^is 
and his bravery inspired tiTmt^^l^ro'r^ was unknown 

OhS^'jr8''l82Y h""^ T^"^^^ --born in Urbana 

of John^"and''Mary''ir^Le"w^^^^^^ ^'^'^^•^"^ ^-"^ "- 
Wallace lived in Sussex Suntv^i^''' ^'' g^-^ndfather 
Rockingham County VirgS"^ in 17^^^ ^^."^^ved to 

John Wallace, was born Abnii/^si^ ?' t?^^''^ ^'' ^^^her, 
to Champaigi Countv Oh^o u^ ^f " ^^"^^^ "^oved 
Lamme, Lfghter of\mes ' J^l^' ^e married Mary 
were born in Augusta SntvV- ^'^^'^^ L^"^"^^' who 
there to Cynthianna Ke3' 7^779^^' ^f, T^^ ^'^^ 
County, Ohio, in 1808. JamesYamme's' ^^ft '° ^^^P^^Sn 
Ireland and came to Americ? Lf^^ ^^^-^^ "^^^ ^o™ i" 
doah Valley, Virginia ^^' '^"^'"§^ ^" Shenan- 

Lalif^aL^c^'ir H^Stht ^^^ ^^ -ther, Mary 
a second wife. ^"^ married Sarah Hitt for 

ness and moved to La S r„, , ""S,'- S''."^ "P ^is busi- 
original grant from ^'e Untd St" t'es Po"™'' '"'^'"? "^ ="" 
Park Township. In 1834 he w,-h! i *^°™™'n«'>t m Deer 
dren moved in';o this new coum'ry "" ™"'' '"' ^'^™" *«- 

reS' to'dH:e" o\t'1 LlTtVTl '^'T'' ^ y°""S 
home to the new one Alofefwn °* f'fP ^^^ *e old 
sojourned in this ptouVe one t^r>''%''""" ^""^ *^ f™ily 
It is.now the beaSpa?k n rthJo^^rTl^'^-y^^^^ 

"^ m"er~d':Vtfb"^""r^-^-- 
pioneers waged wa t^l^TT '"'"'^ "'"' "'<' ^at those 

thoughtful, f^finlrboyToaVed'throt^T'^l^ '" "".'? *^ 
canons and over the far famed <il ^^ the neighboring 

gathered arrows and bel"s trb/tlrv^^^Sd Titf '' 

[2J 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

With so large a family John Wallace desired better 
educational advantages for his children and moved in 1840 
to Mount Morris, Ogle County, where was situated the 
Rock River Seminary, in the organization of which he was 
very active. The Wallace home here was a suburban farm 
and William manfully took an elder brother's share in its 
work, interspersed with his studies at the Rock River Semi- 
nary. 

The martial spirit of young Wallace was early aroused, 
as when a mere lad in Ogle County he with the men of the 
community encountered and drove out a murderous band of 
horse thieves and robbers that infested that region. 

In all newly settled countries these gangs of outlaws for 
a time seem to have full sway, unmolested by law or force. 
Although few districts were entirely free from these out- 
laws the counties of Ogle, Winnebago, Lee and DeKalb 
contained the most numerous and powerful bands. In Ogle 
County especially they overruled all law ; any conviction 
for crime came to naught. The law-abiding citizens deter- 
mined to take the law into their own hands, and organized 
into companies of Regulators to drive these desperadoes 
from the country. "One family, by the name of Driscoll," 
as Randall Parrish says, "determined not to leave and re- 
solved to terrorize the Regulators by threatening death to 
the members of that organization, actually assassinating the 
captain before his wife and family. Indignation was in- 
tense and the father and sons were captured and given a 
day's trial and ordered to be shot, which was done by the 
three hundred Regulators present as one man, so no blame 
would be attached to any one individual." 

A young student, by the name of J- H. Aylsworth, was 
wending his way to the Rock River Seminary for the first 
time, and passed the bodies of the three desperadoes. Many 
years afterwards he wrote of this scene: "On my way to 
Mount Morris I passed the spot where an enraged people 
had just dispatched three horse thieves by the name of 
Driscoll, and, upon reaching the Seminary, I found the 
question before the lyceum for debate as follows : 'Resolved, 
That the lynch law under certain circumstances is justifia- 
ble,' with W. H. L. Wallace leader in the affirmative. 

[3] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"Everything in readiness, Mr. Wallace rose with digni- 
fied bearing, and looking around upon the audience a 
moment he announced with commanding emphasis the fol- 
lowing telling words: 'The letter of the law cannot touch 
every case, but the spirit of the law will.' Another sen- 
tence of like sweeping force or profound import is scarcely 
to be found in the English language. The negatives were 
not able to rise above the conviction of this self evident 
declaration, and the more they labored to combat it the 
clearer it became that conviction is justifiable, and so said 
the judges." 

About 1837, the Hitt brothers, Samuel, Martin, Thomas, 
and Daniel, settled in Ogle County, joined later by their 
sisters, Mrs. Wallace and Mrs. Reynolds. As there was no 
pubHc school in this section at that time the citizens sent 
to Maryland for a teacher, who began his work in a log 
house about a mile from Mount Morris, which was called 
"The Pine Creek Grammar School." But something better 
was desired, and Rev. Thomas S. Hitt, a Methodist divine, 
visited the Illinois Conference in 1838, and urged them to 
establish a school in Ogle County, offering four hundred 
and eighty acres of land with eight thousand dollars in 
money, a most munificent offer in those early times in a 
new country and the settlers few. 

The Conference was at the time looking for a suitable 
place to establish a school and gladly accepted the liberal 
offer. On the Fourth of July, 1839, the corner stone was 
laid amid the rejoicings of the community who gathered 
from far and near to do honor to the occasion to the num- 
ber of some five hundred, the families nearby providing en- 
tertainment for those from a distance. 

Then arose the great difficulty of procuring suitable 
material and workmen. But these almost insurmountable 
obstacles in the way of its immediate erection were over- 
come through the indefatigable and energetic exertion of 
the trustees and the contractor. 

The Institution was opened for students December 1, 
1840. The building was situated in a high and beautiful 
prairie, the view almost boundless. The town of Rockford, 
twenty miles distant could be distinctly seen from the top of 

[4] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

the building, as well as many other small towns on the Rock 
River. The town of Mount Morris grew up around the 
school. 

The men who planned and built this seminary were en- 
thusiastic in their views of the good effect of a high grade 
school upon the community. ''They builded better than 
they knew." In its earlier history when seminaries and 
colleges were few and far apart it wielded a very great in- 
fluence in the western country, especially in Illinois. 

The Hon. R. R. Hitt, in an address at a reunion of the 
old students in 1888, said: "The course of instruction 
pursued in this institution was admirable and was just the 
kind to produce well-rounded minds — men, the kind needed 
for that active and exacting period in the history of the 
country. The classical and mathematical training was 
thorough and the attention to general literature, begetting 
a taste for reading the best work, and the knowledge of the 
things best worth knowing, facility in composition and 
facility in speech, fitted men for any occupation in life, fort- 
ifying them at all points. Much stress was laid upon the 
moral instruction of youth. It gave them elevated char- 
acter, sound principles, and produced men and women who 
have vindicated in useful and excellent lives the lessons of 
a healthful moral training. 

"Fifty years ago, when this country was filling up with 
the laborious pioneer population and with slender provision 
for primary education, there was need of young men of 
strong natural abilities, and with that equipment for the 
world which comes from a general training of the faculties 
which was given here, and the result of which is seen in the 
shining names that star the old catalogues of the Seminary — 
two governors of this state, ten judges, renowned generals, 
eminent preachers, and educators, merchants, merchant 
princes, senators and members of Congress." 

Some of the men who claimed the Rock River Seminary 
for their Alma Mater and afterwards rose to distinction, 
were John L. Beveridge, Shelby M. Cullom, Robert R. Hitt, 
S. M. Fellows, J. V. Farwell, John A. Rawlins, M. R. M. 
Wallace, W. H. L. Wallace. 

There were three literary societies connected with the 

[5] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

school with debates on immense subjects — ^by the students 
who here gained the practice that gave them eminence in 
their country's legislative halls. 

At a reunion of the Rock River Seminary in 1886, H. O. 
McDaid had the topic of the "Amphictyons," one of the 
strongest of these literary societies. 

"The Amphictyons of the 'Old Sandstone' meet again — 
not in solemn debates — not to decide problems relating to 
the happiness and prosperity of their country — ^but, after 
the test of battle — after the crucial struggle in life with 
most of us — we come with shattered and depleted ranks to 
renew old associations and recall old memories. One of 
the objects of the Amphictyons of old was to secure the 
happiness and prosperity of their country, and to this end, 
says yEschines, they bound themselves with an oath. 

"The Amphictyons of 'Old Sandstone' can point to an 
honorable record, testifying their devotion to the happiness 
and prosperity of their country. What debates were held ! 
What subjects discussed ! From the northeastern boundary 
to the constitutionality of the Fugitive Slave Law. Ques- 
tions of political economy and the policy of internal im- 
provements, and the great questions relating to the preserva- 
tion and integrity of the national government. All these 
questions were discussed and decided. No vacillating policy 
was adopted, no hesitation as to remedies — Who will deny 
that in this society, the foundations were laid to shape, in a 
measure, the destinies of war, to sway listening senates ; to 
direct the course of justice; to spread the peaceful sway of 
Christianity. 

"From out these weather-stained halls have gone 
heroic souls ; some to the battle-field ; some to the halls of 
legislation ; some to humbler walks of life ; but all, I be- 
lieve, with as sincere purpose as ever Amphictyons as- 
sembled at Delphi or Anthela. 

"Some have fallen in the freshness of the morning, ere 
the sun had reached the meridian. Some of them, like 
the Amphictyons at Thermopylae, lie in honored graves at 
their country's command. If we call their names they an- 
swer not. 

"Sanford, RawHns, Wallace. Sanford ! Alas, he, who 
with heroic calmness, sacrificed his life for country, sleeps 

[6] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

in the soil of his own loved Byron, almost within sound of 
the murmuring river that flows with the same majesty and 
music as in years gone by. 

"Rawlins! Whose place in the history of this Republic 
will be recognized more and more as time goes by. Raw- 
lins ! the friend of the 'Old Commander' — a friendship 
prized by him as Cicero prized the friendship of the illustri- 
ous Scipio. And when Rawlins was laid to rest on the 
banks of the Potomac, no eyes were moist with sincerer 
tears than those of Ulysses S. Grant. 

"Rawlins ! the military companion of the Silent Soldier 
on every battle field from Belmont to The Wilderness. If 
the world knew the truth, perhaps Stanton did not more to 
strengthen and cheer the sometimes drooping spirits of 

Lincoln; than did Rawlins to round out, into 

complete symmetry, the character and military genius of U. 
S. Grant. No storied urn or stately monument yet marks 
his resting place. The Amphictyons — his brothers, would, 
if they could, place above his dust a monument that would 
meet the sun in his coming, and whose last departing rays 
would linger and play upon its summit. Illinois is proud of 
her son. Time alone will reveal to her the debt of gratitude 
which she owes to the intellectual, the brave, the devoted 
John A. Rawlins. 

"Wallace! At the mention of thy name a flood of old 
associations and memories come thronging to the hearts of 
many who knew thee in young manhood at Mount Morris. 

"He fell on Shiloh's field while facing fearful odds. He 
met his fate, amid the thunder roar of red-mouthed cannon 
'where sabres were clashing and death shot were pouring' : 
"For how can man die better 

Than in facing fearful odds, 
For the ashes of his fathers, 
And the temples of his Gods." 

After the Northwestern University at Evanston was es- 
tablished, the old Seminary did not have its former patron- 
age and did not pay expenses, and was finally sold on a 
mortgage. Robert R. Hitt bought it in, at the earnest 
desire of his mother, and afterwards sold it to the Dunkard 
denomination, and it is now called the Mount Morris 
College. 

[7] 



CHAPTER II. 
Goes to Ottawa, Illinois. Studies Law. 

PROFESSOR D. J. PINCKNEY, the principal of 
the Rock River Seminar)^ for many years, was a "truly 
great man as a teacher and seemed to possess preemi- 
nent power to interest young men and attach them to 
him." As one of his students in after years said of him, 
"His Ufe was a poem in itself." When young Wallace left 
school and home to make his own way in the world this 
friend and teacher gave him the following letter of intro- 
duction, which is both complimentary and prophetic: 

"Rock River Seminary, December 7, 1844. 
"This may certify that the bearer, Wm H. L. Wallace, 
has been for more than three years a student and instructor 
in the R. R, Sem'y, more than two years of which time I 
have had the pleasure of being personally and intimately 
acquainted with him. From an intimate and, as I think, 
thorough knowledge of his talents, attainments, character 
and habits, I am fully prepared, and embrace with great 
satisfaction the opportunity now offered, to recommend him 
to the friendship and kind attention of those with whom his 
lot may hereafter be cast. 

I have no hesitancy in predicting that his success in 
life, if at all comparable to his merits will be preeminent; 
and, hoping that his course may be as much onward and up- 
ward, his reputation as unsullied, his friends as firm and 
faithful, as they have hitherto been, I remain ever 

"His quandom instructor and faithful friend as also the 
humble servant of all 

"Who may befriend him. 

"DaNL J. PiNCKNEY, 

"Principal of the Seminary." 

But Professor Pinckney, desiring his pupil's best welfare, 

could be also Mentor as well as earnest friend, as is shown 

in an extract from a letter written by him to Wallace the 

26th of the same month — "If you do not look to your 

[8] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

grammar, as the schoolmaster would say when you write 
letters, you'll be scolded hard. Carelessness in little things 
is productive of much evil to public men. This is imperti- 
nent. Will, I know, but you must excuse it because of the 
Intention. In writing, a man must be careful to form cor- 
rect habits, or, when crowded with business, he will mourn 
the want of habitual correctness. For three or four years 
be most scrupulously exact in all your business, incidental — 
ofiF-hand writing after that you may go on swimmingly and 
carelessly because habitual. Neither scowl nor fret at 
this homily as needless or inapropos in a friendly letter. 
You know these things, I acknowledge; but you will be 
prone to neglect them in common writing, and soon all your 
writing will be common. But here I resign the office of 
Mentor, which ill suits me, and talk to you as I was wont to 
talk in days of yore. Oh ! 'tis ever so, the past, the past ! — 
how much of the mind it fills, how much of our joy and 
sorrow it engrosses ! What a kind of vacuum is mind with- 
out it." 

In the winter of 1844, after some preliminary legal study, 
Mr. Wallace went with his stepmother's brother, the Hon. 
Samuel Hitt, a member of the Legislature, to Springfield, 
intending to study law with Logan and Lincoln. In the 
long stage journey they fell in with the Hon. T. Lyle 
Dickey, of Ottawa. 

Arrived at Springfield, Mr. Dickey and Mr. Wallace 
took a suite of rooms together and Wallace assisted Mr. 
Dickey in preparing his cases for the Supreme Court then 
in session there. The result of this intimacy was that young 
Wallace arranged to go to Ottawa — his home henceforth, 
and entered the law ofiice of T. Lyle Dickey instead of that 
of Logan and Lincoln. 

Mr. Dickey was especially proud of his eldest little girl, 
Ann, and when in Springfield had received a letter from her, 
then a little girl of twelve years, which he read out loud to 
a little circle of friends. Among the number was the grave 
young man of twenty-three, Mr. Wallace. The thought 
flashed through his brain — "What if that bright, winning 
little girl should some day be my wife — time will show." 

Mr. Wallace studied for a year when he was admitted to 

[9] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

the bar, being duly examined by John Dean Caton and 
Samuel H. Treat, Justices of the Supreme Court ; the 2d of 
December, 1845, he took the oath— "I, William H. L. Wal- 
lace, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution 
of the United States and of said State, and that I will well 
and truly and faithfully perform the duties of an attorney 
at law according to the best of my knowledge, understand- 
ing and ability." Which promise he faithfully kept even to 
the giving of his life's blood. 

His friend, James C. Parks, writes to him in May, 1845, 
from Buffalo, where he was studying for the ministry : 

"You speak of our professions differing. They do, but 
responsibility in one runs parallel with the other. There 
was a time when the administration of justice, pleadings for 
the oppressed and for precepts of law and the preaching of 
righteousness were all blended in the same man, or per- 
formed by the same individual, and that, too, in accordance 
with the instructions of the Divine Law-giver. From this 
to infer that he who takes a license to indulge in all kinds 
of trickery of which he is capable merely because he is a 
lawyer misunderstands the obligations of his profession and 
the origin of the precepts he pretends to advocate. I must 
say when I first heard you say you were intending to pursue 
the study of law I felt gratified. I looked forward to a 
time when you might aid at least in making the law pro- 
fession what it should be and in driving loafers and dema- 
gogues from the bar." 

Mr. Wallace stepped into the pleasant social circles of 
Ottawa — where were many bright men whose names went 
far beyond their own town borders. Ottawa was settled 
largely by educated and cultivated people from New York 
State, with a sprinkling from Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, 
Being a county seat and having the Supreme Court and 
other courts meet there, the legal profession held a leading 
position, giving the town an atmosphere of culture almost 
from the beginning. 

The town is beautifully situated, at the mouth of the 
Fox as it enters the tranquil and beautiful Illinois River. 
High bluffs to the north and south, the town itself in a val- 
ley. Rich prairie farm lands lying in all directions. Varied 

[10] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

scenery down the banks of the picturesque Illinois River, 
of canons, and the far-famed Starved Rock seven miles be- 
low the town, with its historic interests, both from the early 
French explorers and the no less picturesque, but ill fated 
tribe of Illini Indians. A few miles distant is the Deer 
Park Glen, where in old Indian days the guileless deer were 
driven in and captured. Nature with a lavish hand en- 
dowed Ottawa with her beauties, it remained for man to 
mar or improve the opportunities given him. 

Mr. Wallace was steadily rising in his chosen profession, 
working earnestly and industriously, gaining friends both 
near and far. But his old friends of his Alma Mater did 
not lose sight of him, as in March, 1846, came a letter from 
there, saying they intended having a public debate at the 
close of the term and desired a large attendance of all old 
members of the Amphictyon Society. Three of the number 
were especially requested to prepare each an address to de- 
liver on that occasion. They were S. M. Fellows, J. H. 
Beveridge and W. H. L. Wallace. 

When the time came for the debate to occur, Mr. Wal- 
lace was on sterner work intent than addressing a college 
debating society. He with his company was speeding down 
the Mississippi to take part in the Mexican War then in 
progress. 

One of the other students chosen with Mr. Wallace to 
address the society, S. M. Fellows, afterwards a college 
president, wrote him a letter about this time. It could not be 
seen at that date what an important acquisition was to be 
ours in annexing Oregon, California and Texas to the ter- 
ritory of the United States. "May 1848. I suppose you in- 
tend to be here at the close of the term if not before. I am 
afraid but few of the old students will find it convenient to 
be here, though I hope they will come up and help to enliven 
the occasion. If all the Amphictyons could meet they would 
present a pretty strong phalanx of talent and ability. 
Enough at any rate to give the world a pretty good stirring 
wherever they may be. By the way, what subject have you 
selected for your address for the close of the term ? I have 
not determined what I shall write about. * * * * 

"The warlike spirit of your letter considerably alarmed 

[11] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

me. What! you become a soldier? Why if you wish to do 
that you should enlist in the royal guards of Prussia, where 
you could be surrounded by your peers. Perhaps though 
your disposition would lead you to prefer a situation where 
your eminence would be conspicuous. But really, Wallace, 
are you in earnest about military glory? Do you think you 
could face the cannon's mouth and rush upon the glittering 
steel of an enemy? Not that I would wish to intimate a want 
of true courage in your composition, but I should almost 
hope you were deficient in this kind of brutal courage. I 
have not been able to bring myself to believe that we should 
be involved in a war with England on the Oregon question. 
I do not think that two such nations as the United States 
and Great Britain will resort to this ultimatum. Neither 
power could conquer the other, and after a ten years' war, 
the matter must be settled by negotiation as entirely as it 
would be without war. 

"And even if we should succeed in obtaining the whole 
of the territory, which is quite improbable, it would be a mis- 
erable compensation for the loss of millions of money and 
thousands of lives. 

"Of the war in Mexico, or rather with Mexico,- late ac- 
counts seem to make it quite certain that hostilities have 
really commenced. Whether it will be prosecuted with 
much vigor by Mexico is very doubtful. I do not exactly 
understand this question of national interference, but I can 
see no reason why England or France should have anything 
to do with the Mexican affair. Even if the United States 
should conquer and annex Mexico, which I hope they will 
not do — it would be only acting upon rhe principle of the 
British in Asia. There they conquer and subject whole 
countries without scruple as to its righteousness. 

"For my own part T have not much desire for the honor 
and glory of a military hero, and shall not probably start 
for the seat of war immediately." 



[12] 



CHAPTER III. 
Mexican War. Journey to Mexico. 

THE war with Mexico was now actually a fact. Ever 
since Texas had gained her independence from Mex- 
ico and joined the United States as an integral part of 
the Union there had been friction over boundary lines. 
When the Mexican soldiery actually shed the blood of 
Americans on American soil, the war spirit was aroused. 
Congress on the 11th of May, 1846, acknowledged that war 
already existed by the act of the Mexican government and 
placed ten million dollars at the disposal 6f the President to 
prosecute the war. 

War meetings were held in all parts of the country and 
within a few weeks three hundred thousand men rushed 
forward to join the ranks. Six regiments went from Illi- 
nois. In La Salle County the war spirit also found its way. 
T. Lyle Dickey gave up his fine law practice and organized 
one of the first companies, of which he was chosen Captain. 
W. H. L. Wallace naturally followed. He enlisted as pri- 
vate, but was soon elected Second Lieutenant. This company 
from Ottawa and vicinity consisted of seventy-five men. 

The company was organized in May, going direct to Al- 
ton, where they were attached to the First Regiment, of 
which John J. Hardin was Colonel. The other regiments 
were here also. The Second, ynder Colonel William H. Bis- 
sel. The Third, under Colonel I. H. Farman, and the Fourth 
under Colonel Ned Baker. All four were organized and 
mustered into the service of the United States for one year. 
In July these four regiments were sent to New Orleans and 
there divided, the First and Second going to San Antonio; 
the Third and Fourth to Vera Cruz. 

The American forces were organized in three divisions 
for the invasion of Mexico, as planned by General Scott: 
The Army of the West, under General Kearney, was to 
cross the Rocky Mountains and conquer the Northern Mex- 
ican provinces : The Army of the Centre, under General 

[13] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Scott as commander-in-chief, was to march from the gulf 
into the heart of the enemy's country. The Army of Occu- 
pation, commanded by General Taylor, was to subdue and 
hold the districts on the Rio Grande. 

The work of mustering the American troops was en- 
trusted to General Wool. By the middle of the summer he 
succeeded in dispatching to General Taylor a force of nine 
thousand men. He established his camp at San Antonio, 
Texas, and from that point prepared the gathering recruits 
for the field. Meanwhile General Taylor resumed active 
operations on the Rio Grande, pushing on toward the forti- 
ned town of Monterey. 

The company and regiment in which W. H, L. Wallace 
was serving joined the Army of Occupation under General 
Taylor. From letters and a journal written by Mr. Wallace 
and here given, a pretty full account is received of this part 
of the year's campaign in Mexico of the First Regiment's 
movements. Mr. Wallace's first letter is from Alton on 
July 3d: 

"On the ground in our immediate vicinity are encamped 
some fifteen hundred troops, some of the companies well 
trained, and the whole presenting a scene to me novel and 
highly enchanting. I just begin to enjoy the life of a sol- 
dier — for my duties have been so arduous up to this time 
that I had not time to enjoy anything but my mess and my 
sleep." 

On July 19th, he writes in his journal : "Six companies 
of the First Regiment embarked on the Steamer Hanibal at 
an early hour. Before we could get on board our men had 
to stand for an hour on the bank, and those who were 
drunkenly inclined slipped out of the ranks and filled their 
canteens with "Old Red Eye," and by noon we had a fine 
set of fellows to manage. One of our privates, Frank — , 
was particularly savage and I was charged by Major War- 
ren with the unpleasant duty of choking him into submis- 
sion. His rum and rage threw him into a fit from which he 
came near dying. But as soon as he was held up and re- 
ceived fresh air he seemed to acquire fresh madness and 
he kept the whole company in disorder until twelve o'clock. 
Something must be done with the fellow." 

[14] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

As they passed down the river they stopped but an hour 
at St. Louis, where he says : "We anchored in the stream 
between the foot of 'Bloody Island' and St. Louis. I won- 
der that ever a duel was fought on 'Bloody Island.' One 
would imagine that in crossing the dark and angry current 
of the river, some thought of the impassable gulf over 
which one or both combatants were likely to pass would 
stay their murderous hands. I looked upon the sandy banks 
and willow shade of this 'dark and bloody ground' with 
emotion. Desolate and dreary as it is in itself, it appears 
yet more so when we see it surrounded and cut off on all 
sides by this boiling Mississippi. I have been studying this 
strange river all day. As we left Alton I saw we were sail- 
ing on a clear and beautiful stream. My attention was 
called to business in the cabin and when I looked again, the 
river was as muddy as a frog pond. My first impression 
was we were running in shoal water, but in looking around, 
it was all the same, the river seemed to have undergone 
some necromantic change — that some demon was stirring 
the 'Father of Waters.' It is indeed a mysterious and ter- 
rible stream. Nothing of romance about it, and nothing to 
render it an object of admiration but its immensity. It was 
Sunday when we went ashore at St. Louis, and the quiet 
narrow streets appeared to me like some deserted town of 
the old world. The mighty business heart of the city had 
ceased its pulsation and the quiet wharfs and streets pre- 
sented a vivid contrast to the hurrying stream that pelted 
along at their foot. * * * * Our quarters are com- 
fortable, much more so than I had anticipated. The officers 
have the whole of both cabins and the men are conveniently 
quartered in different parts of the boat. We are making 
a fine run. We have on board Brigadier General Shields, 
who has orders to join General Taylor with two regiments, 
the Third and Fourth. The First and Second will land at 
La Baca in Metagorda Bay and join General Wool at San 
Antonio de Bexar, who will then march upon Chihuahua" 
and, as he writes to a friend : "I shall have the opportunity 
of gratifying my wish, but whether you will 'crown me with 
laurel' depends much upon circumstances." 

He again writes in his journal in journeying further 

[15] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

down the Mississippi: "Memphis is a most lovely place. 
A bold but not very high bank rises from the water's edge, 
and slopes back as far as the eye can reach, and everywhere 
one sees clean streets and whole blocks of new brick build- 
ings not crowded together, but placed at a comfortable dis- 
tance from each other, as though they dreaded close con- 
tact might cause sickness in this southern climate. It is the 
most beautiful place I've met anywhere on the route, and 
when I return I've a great mind to settle there. Just before 
reaching Memphis our company was ordered forward with 
their knapsacks and accoutrements, but without their arms. 
They were all on the qui-vive to know what this might 
mean. Some said we were to go ashore for drill and some 
that we were to land and join the Tennessee cavalry, a reg- 
iment which were encamped opposite the town ; some 
thought one thing, some another, but all agreed that we 
were to' go ashore. As the boat rounded up the Lieutenant 
Colonel (Weatherford), with the Sergeant-Major, came on 
deck and the latter proceeded to read a general order ad- 
dressed to Captain Dickey ordering him to call up Frank 
(the private who behaved so badly on Sunday), take from 
him his uniform and all the public property in his possession 
and drum him out of the company, which was accordingly 
done with all due form. Frank braved it out until the yawl 
touched the shore, swearing that 'he would rather a hundred 
times be drummed out of that regiment than stay in it and 
be deprived of the liberty of speech by choking.' But as he 
stepped on shore the band played the 'Rogues' March,' the 
other companies hissing and hooting him and hallooing to 
the people on shore 'not to stop that man but let him go, that 
he was drummed out,' etc., the sense of his disgrace seemed 
to force itself upon him, and he walked up the bank with 
tears in his eyes. Our company, I am happy to say, added 
nothing to wound his feelings, though many of them had 
been sadly abused by him. The scene left an impression on 
the minds of all that will produce a good effect." 

He writes further in his journey: "July 22d, passed 
some most splendid plantations. The negro quarters gener- 
ally appeared comfortable — even more, there is an appear- 
ance of neatness and order about them — their white-washed 

[16] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

walls and thick green shade present an appearance of more 
comfort than the residence of nine-tenths of their fanatical 
friends at the North. The country to-day has looked more 
like living than any thing since leaving St. Louis. Broad 
fields covered with heavy crops of corn and cotton — fine 
residences buried in rich foliage of the China tree, which 
is peculiar to this climate, tall forests of cypress from whose 
branches hang long pendants of Spanish moss — extensive 
orchards of peaches, the rich fruit glistening in the sun as 
we ran near the shore and looking as tempting in our eyes 
as did the forbidden fruit to Mother Eve." * * * * in 
passing these fine old plantations, he further says : "I Hke 
the state of these old planters, each being in his own castle 
on his own domain, with his own retainers about him — there 
is a charm of chivalry about it that delights me. * * * 

"Yesterday some of the high-blooded lieutenants of the 
regiment saw fit to amuse themselves with the genteel game 
of poker. This morning General Shields called a meeting 
of the officers in the after cabin and read to them the army 
regulation respecting gaming. He also proposed to close 
the bar against all, both officers and men, which proposition 
met with general opposition. * * * * j^ly 24th. 
Through a scene that throws the Arabian Nights into the 
shade. * * * * \ye are gliding on toward the Cres- 
cent City. On either bank is a street of planter's houses, 
negro quarters and sugar houses, all in the most tasteful 
style and the greatest order and neatness. * * * * About 
nine o'clock we began to reach the city of New Orleans and 
my first feeling was one of disappointment. There is a dingy 
appearance about the town as seen from the river that does 
not comport with our ideas of a magnificent city, but as we 
passed on the Crescent City in all its grand extent gradu- 
ally presented itself, as the tall spire of the upper Cathedral 
and the lofty dome of the St. Charles hotel shot up their 
fine proportions and we passed the foot of long streets run- 
ning far back with tall buildings almost overshadowing 
them on either side ; as we glided past the forest of masts 
at the upper ship landing and entered the world of steam- 
boats at their landing and saw the wharfs covered with ac- 
tive business men, bales of goods and negroes attached to 

[17] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

them and heard the indescribable hum of a great business 
city, I began to have some idea of the immensity of the 
place. And when after landing the troops at the battle 
grounds, I returned to the city on business and walked 
through the narrow crowded streets, with millions of wealth 
obtruding itself upon the public gaze, when I approached 
the St. Charles Hotel, the pride and glory of the traveling 
world, with its massive proportions, Corinthian columns and 
majestic dimensions covering an entire square and ascended 
through its six lofty stories to the splendid dome that sur- 
mounts it, and gazed upon the broad extent of the city un- 
rolled at my feet like a living map with its thousand nar- 
row streets overhung, and almost shaded by the old French 
houses, the windings of the Mississippi and the blue glisten- 
ing of Lake Pontchartrain far into the southwest, with the 
long line of the new 'Shell road' leading off towards it, 
with the hum of the streets below, the old French buildings 
rusty with age and the dampness of the climate, my wonder 
and admiration was roused to a degree I never felt before. 
I had never seen a place of more than five thousand inhab- 
itants. I took advantage of the business I had to do to see 
as much of the place as possible. I spent four dollars for 
cab hire in visiting different parts of the town besides run- 
ning myself down afoot. * * * * j dined at the St. 
Charles for the gratification of seeing a good dinner eaten 
according to the rules of etiquette. I relied on Colonel C, 
with whom I went in, to act as chaperon, but I found him 
about as green as myself. We sat during the hour mincing 
over some cold ham and tomatoes while the fashionable 
bloods around us were cracking the champagne bottles. 

"July 25th. Slept upon the ground where Jackson 
achieved his glory (8th of January, 1815), but felt none of 
Byron's enthusiasm upon the plains of Marathon, perhaps 
because I was very tired, probably because I am not Byron. 
* * * * At dark we embarked on board the Brig Al- 
bertina, a small craft of two hundred tons that had been 
employed by the Quartermaster to carry us out to La Baca. 
I find we will be considerably crowded tho' we have only 
our own and Captain Morgan's companies and the Quincy 
Riflemen, the most quiet, gentlemanly set of fellows in the 

[18] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

regiment, and I hope we shall have a pleasant trip. I am 
glad we are going by sailing vessel ; it adds a variety to our 
journey, but whether it will be a pleasant variety remains 
to be seen. The vessel is small, but well built, with a small 
cabin on deck with eight berths. In this seven by nine af- 
fair slept six commissioned officers, a surgeon, captain of 
the brig, a would-be gentleman soldier named L S. T., and 
two or three sick privates of the two companies. On deck 
the men were equally crowded. There was but one fire 
place, on which about four camp kettles could boil, and 
here the whole one hundred and eighty men had to do their 
cooking, and none but che best natured fellows could have 
got along without quarreling at least, if not fighting. On 
board the brig we found provisions for thirty days. Col- 
onel Hardin appointed me commissary for the trip." 

On the 31st of July they sighted land, but did not enter 
Metagorda Bay until late, and the companies did not land 
until the third of August. On the eleventh they set out on 
the march to San Antonio, the journal continues ; * * * 
"After crossing the creek we struck a wet prairie with wa- 
ter from three inches to two feet deep for eighteen miles. 
We reached Victoria about dark, weary, wet and hungry, 
and without cooking utensils or tents, lay on the wet ground 
beside a frog pond in our dripping clothes, but I slept well." 

They were about two weeks on the march and reached 
San Antonio on the 25th of August, first camping at Mis- 
sion de Conception ruins, and from there they moved to 
Camp Crockett. The command remained in San Antonio 
about six weeks. General Wool organized the army here 
to proceed to the conquest of Chihuahua. "This army con- 
sisted of the two Illinois regiments, First and Second, an 
Arkansas regiment of infantry, two companies of Kentucky 
cavalry under Major Williams, a body of six hundred regu- 
ular cavalry under Colonel Harney, and a battalion under 
Major Bourneville, a splendid battery of artillery under 
Captain Washington, of the Fourth United States Artillery, 
and an Engineer Corps in charge of Robert E. Lee. These 
batteries, with others under W. T. Sherman and the brave 
Mississippian, Bragg, who afterwards commanded the Con- 
federate forces at Chickamauga, with two other volunteer 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

batteries, were what gave the Battle of Buena Vista to the 
American side with less than five thousand men against 
twenty thousand Mexicans."* 

Although the climate of San Antonio seemed both health- 
ful and delightful, there was much sickness among the men. 
Captain Dickey found it necessary to resign on account of 
ill health and returned home on September 28th. B. M. 
Prentiss was made Captain in his place, and W. H. L. Wal- 
lace took his place as First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 
regiment. In writing to some friends from Camp Crockett, 
on September 23d, Wallace says : 

"I have been so busy latterly that I fear the news is all 
written. M — and some of the rest of the boys spend most 
of their time in writing letters, journals and so on, but it 
has been my peculiar fortune in this campaign to be placed 
constantly in new positions, and before I have fairly learned 
the duties of one place I find myself in another, so that I 
am compelled to steal time from these new duties to write 
letters. I suppose you have heard of my promotion to the 
position of Adjutant of the regiment. I say it not in the 
spirit of boasting, but looking back upon my course for the 
last three or four months I can but be thankful for my good 
fortune. First a Sergeant of the line, then a Lieutenant and 
now Adjutant of the First Regiment, truly I have taken a 
rise! 

"But these new places successfully presented new and 
arduous duties, and in my anxiety to learn to fill my place I 
have sometimes, perhaps, appeared neglectful of my friends. 
You will receive this by the hand of Captain Dickey. The 
cause of his going home is ill health, and no circumstance 
that has occurred since we left home has caused me more 
regret than to be deprived of his company. But this climate 
would kill him in short time. He stuck to it bravely, but it 
would not do, the only safety for him was in returning as 
rapidly as possible. 

"Our company is now commanded by Captain Prentiss, 
the late Adjutant, and the best officer in the two regiments." 

♦William Osman. 

[20] 



CHAPTER IV. 
Marching into Mexico. 

ON October 2d the First Regiment left San Antonio 
and crossed the Rio Grande at Presidio. There on the 
13th Wallace writes in his journal of meeting Gen- 
eral Shields and G. T. M. Davis, and hearing of the hard 
fighting at Monterey. They continued their march and on 
the 16th reached San Juan de Navo after twenty-five miles 
of hard marching with no water. They still continued, and 
on the 17th and 18th encamped near the mountains for the 
first time. On the 19th they encamped on a plain near wa- 
ter, but an arid stony country with no wood. From this point 
an interesting letter is written from Wallace to his father : 

"Camp 80 miles west of the Rio Grande, 

October 19, 1846. 

"As an express starts in the morning for San Antonio, 
and as this is our only mode of communication with the 
civilized world, I snatch a moment from other duties to 
wriie you. * * * * "\Ye have gotten so far into the 
'bowels of the land,' that all certain conveyance is cut oflF. 
We left San Antonio on the second instant; the last de- 
tachment of the division leaves there in a day or two from 
this time ; they may bring some letters ; if so, they will be 
the last from that way ; for they will bring along all the 
public stores, and the route will be abandoned and we enter 
Mexico, like Cortez, cutting off all possible retreat. 

"We passed the Rio Grande on the thirteenth, after a 
march of twelve days from San Antonio, a distance of one 
hundred and eighty miles. Six miles distant from the river 
we passed through a Mexican town of fifteen hundred in- 
habitants called Presidio. It is a long, straggling street, with 
mud huts scattered along its sides for near a mile. Three 
miles out from Presidio we encamped with the advance 
■ corps, which had preceeded us five days. We were here 
joined by General Shields and G. T. M. Davis of Illinois. 

[21] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

General Shields took command of all the infantry, and on 
the morning of the sixteenth we took up the line of march 
for Manclova." 

While on the march Wallace received a letter from his 
old friend and mentor, Professor Pickney, who gives his 
quandom pupil sage advice as to his actions, even in war- 
fare : "Ah ! war is a sorry game, which, were people wise, 
kings would never play at; query, would Presidents? But 
I said there was a kind of glory in it, good and true, earned 
as in every state of life, by discharging duty: and that is 
not to see how often we can kill, how near he can get to the 
front and thickest of the fight : but to wisely, carefully, hu- 
manly consider how, with the least suffering to his friends 
and foes, he can effect the greatest good to his country? 
Yes, and to the enemy's, too. Don't lose sight of that. Will. 
There are men, some good, true, useful, — ^you are not per- 
sonally opposed to them nor they to you. You and every 
man and all the boys in our army are bound to act for their 
good. The spirit of party raging in the ranks will have a 
powerful tendency to make you forget that you are any- 
thing else but a soldier of the Union : Think of Goldsmith's 
very just satire on Ed. Burke — 

" 'Who, born for the Universe, narrowed his mind 
And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.' " 

On the 20th the army continued their march and reached 
Los Alamas, a deep and rapid mountain stream which they 
cross on the 21st. The Santa Rosa Mountains were like a 
dark cloud in the distant west. On the 24th they passed 
through the pretty little town of Santa Rosa, and reached 
Hot Springs on the 28th. On the 30th they encamped three 
miles from Monclova and on November 2d they marched 
through the town and camped near there until the 24th of 
the month. Monclova was the capital of Coahuila and a 
city of eight thousand inhabitants. From this camping place 
Wallace writes his father : 

"Camp near Monclova, Mexico, 
"November 6, 1846. 

"I believe I wrote you while on the march from San An- 
tonio, but in the hurry and bustle of new events I have no 

[22] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

distinct recollection of what I wrote and from what precise 
point. These letters seem to me like firing at the moon, the 
distance is so great and the means of communication so un- 
certain. Yet I cannot resist the inclination to write when- 
ever I have any time or any thing like an opportunity of 
sending. 

"We are now lying in camp on the edge of the town of 
Monclova, a place of some eight thousand inhabitants, situ- 
ated at the foot of a lofty and barren chain of mountain 
range. In whatever direction you look from the camp the 
bold or indistinct outlines of these mountains, as they are 
near or remote, rise like mighty barriers to oppose our pro- 
gress or our retreat. A stream comes down from the moun- 
tain, rushes past the town, supplying innumerable ducts and 
hydrants watering every part of the town. A broad valley 
of fine land borders this stream and is dotted here and there 
with ranches and haciendas (cattle and plain farms), some 
of them in a fine state of cultivation, covered with luxuri- 
ant crops, corn, cotton and sugar cane. All the cultivated 
lands here require to be irrigated, and for this purpose their 
fields and farms are intersected with numerous ditches run- 
ning in every direction. The farms or ranches are generally 
miserable affairs, with httle or no fencing and mud huts, 
though occasionally we passed one of a superior order. 
Two days before we reached here we encamped at the Hot 
Springs, where was the finest hacienda I have seen. The 
main buildings and out houses, including a sugar house and 
store, were enclosed by a heavy stone wall twelve feet high, 
the whole covering a space of seven acres. The place is 
owned by two brothers, Sanchez, one of whom lives in Sal- 
tillo, and the other in the City of Mexico. They own all the 
county from San Fernando to this place and on to near 
Saltillo, a scope of country some two hundred and fifty 
miles in extent. The hacienda is now occupied by Sefior 
Miguel Blanco, a nephew of Sanchez. He works one hun- 
dred and sixty servants. I visited every part of the estab- 
lishment in company with a Texan who speaks Spanish. 
The quarters of the working people were far inferior to 
those of the slaves on the Mississippi, but appeared neat and 
clean as far as could be. A system of slavery exists here 

[23] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L .WALLACE 

which is not an improvement on the slavery in our Southern 
States. Whenever a man is in debt, his creditor sues him, 
gets a judgment, and if the debtor has not the means to 
satisfy it, the creditor may take him as his servant and com- 
pel him to work out the debt at the rate of three dollars 
per month, finding his own clothes. I am told that hun- 
dreds of men here enter this kind of service to avoid being 
drafted into the army. 

"Before he can discharge the original debt, they have 
necessarily contracted others, and thus they continue for 
years in slavery until old age and hard labor have made them 
unfit for further service and then they are released to the 
wretched liberty of a penniless old age. The difiference in 
the classes is as distinctly marked here as in the slave states. 
The peons, or servants, are generally a dark, swarthy, shag- 
gy-haired race, evidently a mixture of Indian and negro, 
with occasionally a touch of the Spanish blood. The lead- 
ing men and men of wealth are much whiter and more in- 
telligent in appearance, and some of the women of the upper 
classes are decidedly beautiful. 

"It is difficult to tell their true feelings toward us — 
some of them confess to be greatly dissatisfied with the 
rapacity and imbecility of the Central Government, and are 
very willing to sell us corn and other commodities at about 
three prices. On the other hand, I have concluded from 
what I have seen in Monclova that there is a deep feeling 
of hostility toward us ; and I know that Senor Blanco, at the 
Hot Springs, had assembled a considerable force at his 
hacienda to oppose our progress, and only disbanded it a 
few days before our arrival. 

"I am informed by a young Spaniard, a resident of Mon- 
clova, who speaks English, that the priests exerted their ut- 
most influence to raise the people against us, representing 
us as a plundering band with whom their property and fam- 
ilies would be ruined. Thus far, they have nothing to com- 
plain of, and indeed, they say themselves that we are not 
half so great a terror to them as their own armies. From 
the policy that General Wool has adopted, I think we will 
not give them any reason to complain. We pay them their 

[24] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

own price for every thing we get from them, and the war 
thus far is more injury to us than to Mexico. 

"General Shields thinks all these northern provinces are 
ripe for revolution. He came up from Metemoras to Pre- 
sidio and was very kindly received by the authoritives of all 
the frontier towns, and the feeling he found there is what 
he bases his presumption upon. But I've no doubt he over- 
estimates the extent of this feeling ; if we should meet with 
any reverses these very fellows who are now so kind and so 
full of professions of friendship, would be the first to cut 
our throats. Treachery is a characteristic of the race, and 
after getting all our money I've no doubt they would shoot 
us for the sake of our clothes. I don't think they will ever 
fight us with anything like equal numbers. Taylor's victory 
at Monterey over a superior force, and that force en- 
trenched, has frightened them. It is said that Santa Ana 
is now fortifying San Luis Potosi, and if peace is not con- 
cluded before the expiration of the armistice General Tay- 
lor will push on to that point ; and our greatest hope is to 
join him. Wool is very unpopular with the command; he 
has quarreled with every field officer in it. His orders are 
positive and peremptory to go to Chihuahua and take the 
place. There are two places on the Rio Grande named 
Presidio and another town in the province of Chihuahua 
named Monclova. Wool, mistaking his orders, now finds 
himself after a march of four hundred miles over moun- 
tains and rapids and deep rivers as far and some farther 
from Chihuahua than when at San Antonio, and the route 
from this place is almost impracticable, and as I said before, 
our only hope is to be detached from this column and sent 
to General Taylor, to meet him at Saltillo after the termina- 
tion of the armistice. General Wool is very old and a very 
vain man : I do not blame, tho' I pity him. The manage- 
ment of an army in the field is 'above his head,' and the 
Government and the department is culpably and criminally 
foolish for putting him in command of a division." 

Orders here came to General Wool to turn his column 
southward and give up the march to Chihuahua. The army 

• [25] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

left Monclova on the 24th of November, after marching 
thirty miles one day without water over exceedingly rough 
roads in narrow passes of the mountains, they reached 
Parras on December 5th, where Wallace again writes to his 
father : 

"Camp near Parras, Mexico, 
"December 8, 1846. 

"We reached this place on the fifth inst. after a march of 
twelve days from Monclova. We left the latter place on the 
24th of November, leaving Major Warren with two com- 
panies of the First Regiment (Captain Morgan's and Cap- 
tain Prentiss', formerly Dickey's) and two from the Second 
Regiment and three companies Arkansas cavalry. 

"He had liberal instructions and will no doubt quit him- 
self with honor should anything turn up that requires 
prompt and vigorous action, for the Major is not the man 
to back out an inch from any position he assumes. Cool, 
calm, and determined in everything, he is my beau ideal of 
an officer. * * * * 

"The country between here and Monclova is the most 
perfect desert. On all sides the rugged and barren heights 
of the mountains frown upon us and the valley we traveled 
through is almost as barren, save when a stream is reached 
which afforded facilities for irrigation. 

"Some of the route we marched thirty miles without wa- 
ter. This, with the thermometer at eighty-five at noon, was 
very hard upon the men, but they stool it like soldiers. On 
the whole route we saw evidences of the imbecility of the 
government, ruined ranches, laid waste by the Comanches, 
and wooden crosses stuck upon the side of the road to mark 
the place where murder had been committed by Indian or 
robber, told fearfully what was the state of things in the 
country. Occasionally we passed a fine rancho where all 
the evidences of wealth and comfort were found, in one 
spot, and all around were the most squalid poverty and 
wretchedness. 

"Six miles from this place we passed the most splendid 
hacienda we have yet seen. It is owned by Don Manuel de 
Ebarba, a Spanish gentleman educated at the Catholic 
school in Bardstown, Ky. He is an American in feeling, 

[26] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

and when Santa Ana sent to him to collect a contribution 
the other day, he armed his peasants or slaves and resisted 
the collectors. We encamped one night within a mile of his 
house, and in the evening I went with the band of our regi- 
ment and gave him a serenade. He invited us in and treat- 
ed us in the most hospitable manner. He speaks English 
very well, and I had quite a conversation with him. He 
says the Comanches trouble him very much, that the gov- 
ernment cannot protect the citizens, nor would allow them 
to protect themselves, that they had taken his arms from 
him several times, but he had supplied himself again. He 
expressed himself greatly pleased at the occupation of the 
country by an American force, and hoped this part of 
Mexico would be annexed to the United States, at the close 
of the war. 

"His place is the most magnificent aflFair I ever saw. He 
has an extensive vineyard and manufactures large quantities 
of wine and brandy. 

"He was very profuse of his liquors which were very 
fine, as several of our officers can testify. Even the Com- 
manding General was not proof against their seductive in- 
fluence and returned to camp from his visit to Don Manuel 
in a decidedly glorious state. It is astonishing what an 
amount of labor has been expended in the improvement of 
this hacienda. The whole grounds, including about a sec- 
tion and a half, are enclosed by a wall of unburnt brick 
some twelve to fifteen feet high as a protection against the 
Indians. 

"The house is built in the old Spanish style, with a front 
of about two hundred feet and a paved court yard inside 
surrounded by tasteful buildings and filled with flowers and 
trees and everything in the most substantial style. 

"The town of Parras is a better place than any town we 
have heretofore seen. The houses are of a more tasteful 
and substantial style, and the inhabitants more like white 
folks. Many of the 'upper ten thousand' have been in to see 
us in camp. The ladies ride in heavy carriages drawn by a 
pair of mules that look like mice hitched to those ponderous 
vehicles. These carriages are rich in finish and the mules 
are loaded down with plated trappings, and then a great 

[27] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Mexican postillion in jack-boots seated astride of the near 
mule and two footmen mounted behind complete the strange 
show which every day rolls through our camp. 

"We take a few Mexican prisoners, but can learn but lit- 
tle of the movements of the Mexican army. One thing is 
certain, Santa Ana is lying at San Luis Potosi with a force 
of thirty or forty thousand men. General Worth is in Sal- 
tillo with three or four thousand Americans, and General 
Taylor is moving on toward San Luis. We will act in con- 
junction with General Taylor, but will not actually join him 
before we reach San Luis. We will probably take the route 
by Durango and Zacaticas to San Luis. From present ap- 
pearances we will not leave here for a month or six weeks. 
All the forces left on the road between here and San An- 
tonio and at San Antonio will join us before we move again. 
I doubt whether we have any more fighting. The Mexican 
Congress met on the 6th inst. and no doubt they will give 
the question of peace a speedy consideration. Santa Ana 
finds great difficulty in subsisting his army, as we are now in 
the heart of the bread country of Mexico. 

"General Wool is as popular as ever. He makes a great 
display of his feathers, greatly to the amusement of these 
hidalgos." 

The command remained in Parras from December fifth 
until the seventeenth, when they left for Saltillo, reaching 
Aqua Nueva, eighteen miles from Saltillo, on the twenty- 
first, having marched one hundred and twenty miles in four 
days. From this point Wallace writes to his father: 

"Camp at Aqua Nueva, 
"December 23, 1846. 
"I last wrote you from Parras, where we arrived on the 
fifth, and where we expected to remain all winter. On the 
17th we were lying in camp at that place — all was quiet — the 
Colonel had gone off with General Wool to look for winter 
quarters for some of the troops. We had a day or two 
previous received command from General Taylor to occupy 
that position — that he had received advices from the depart- 
ment to hold on to what he had acquired in Northern Mex- 

[28] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

ico, but to push no further. All were expecting to spend an 
inactive month or two there. I had that morning acted as 
Adjutant of the Day and had returned from guard-mount- 
ing and was sitting in my tent writing letters when an ex- 
press on a foaming horse rode up to the General's quarters 
and alighted. Soon after the Colonel rode up in haste, dis- 
mounted and went straight to the General's marque — but 
he had scarcely got there before he turned round and came 
back on a run and before he was half way back halloed to 
me, 'Adjutant, call up the Sergeants ! Give notice to pre- 
pare for march immediately !' In two minutes the roar and 
bustle of preparation was heard in every part of the camp. 
Tents were struck, wagons loaded, sick men sent off to the 
hospital in town, and in an hour we were ready to move. 

"Then there was 'mounting in hot haste' and we were oflf 
on the road to Saltillo. As I rode beside the Colonel at the 
head of our column I had time to inquire the cause of this 
movement. Dispatches had been received from General 
Worth at Saltillo, stating that a large Mexican force had 
left San Luis Potosi and were within three days' march of 
Saltillo, and it was supposed that Santa Ana, with the main 
force was marching upon that place. 

"We made a forced march, starting each morning at 
three o'clock and moving eleven to fourteen hours each 
day. We accomplished the whole distance (about one hun- 
dred and twenty miles) in four days with a train of artillery 
and baggage wagons amounting to some five hundred, over 
one of the roughest roads imaginable. 

"You can form no idea of the disappointment and cha- 
grin we felt, when arriving here within eighteen miles of 
Saltillo we learned it was a false alarm, that a body of Mex- 
icans had been within three days' march of this place, but 
nothing further could be learned from them. We are now 
lying in camp opposite a pass in the mountains through 
which the San Luis road passes, and commands the only 
water there is for fifty miles in that direction. The position 
is said to be a very strong one, but I confess I can not see 
its strength. The pass in the narrowest part is five hundred 
yards wide, with sloping hills on either side, and the plain 
In which we are, and which can be reached without coming 

[29] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

within range of our guns, is a most splendid place for cav- 
alry to act; and the Mexican force consists principally of 
that arm. 

"General Wool will not go to Saltillo because Major 
General Butler is there, and he is fearful of losing his com- 
mand. If General Butler leaves within a day or two, Wool 
will go in, for he ranks General Worth, who is stationed 
there. 

"We had quite an excitement on the march about this 
matter of rank. General Wool preceded us some six to 
ten miles with the Dragoon and Artillery and we were left 
to bring up the train and so encamped separately from the 
General. Colonel Churchill was with us and wanted to as- 
sume the command. There is a question that has produced 
difficulty in the regular army as to the right of staff officers 
to command unless assigned by the President. On this oc- 
casion Colonel Hardin, as the senior officer in the line of the 
army, took command, and he and Churchill had quite a 
quarrel — officially of course — which ended by Churchill 
ordering Hardin under arrest, and Hardin laughing at him. 
The question is still unsettled, and whenever Wool is out of 
camp Hardin assumes command and all the officers of the 
line, both regulars and volunteers, recognize him as com- 
mander. This annoys Churchill horribly to be ranked and 
commanded by a volunteer colonel." 

"December 24th. 

"We have news to-day from Parras that two or three 
thousand Mexican troops are close to that place. Captain 
Hoffman, of the Sixth Infantry, has been ordered up, and 
has left the place. He is now at Potos, thirty-five miles 
from here. 

"Before he left the Comanches had made an attack on 
the hacienda of Don Manuel Ebarba that I spoke of. Cap- 
tain Hoffman sent out a detachment of Arkansas men to 
protect the place. One of them was returning to town and 
a Mexican attempted to 'lasso' him as they do wild horses. 
He failed in the first attempt, and before he could repeat it 
the Arkansite drew up his carbine and killed him. 

"We know not what will be our next place of destination. 
There are rumors of twenty or thirty thousand Mexicans 

[30] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

moving upon us in three columns — one to Parras — one here 
— and another to Victoria. On the other hand it is rumored 
that the Mexican Congress has passed a resolution propos- 
ing to receive a commission to adjust the difficulties be- 
tween the two countries." 



[31] 



CHAPTER V. 
On the March to Buena Vista. 

CHRISTMAS day the regiment camped at La Encan- 
tado and William Osman, a member of the Ottawa 
company, writes : "After tents were up and in order, 
the impulse was to take a rest. Our mess had a few gallons 
of wine left, and having come in possession of a couple of 
jack rabbits, and our cook having in addition to roasting 
them concocted a delicious corn pone and a plum pudding 
out of Mexican figs and raisins, we celebrated Christmas 
with a state dinner, which Colonel Hardin, Adjutant Wal- 
lace and Secretary Goodell honored with their presence." 
Mr. Wallace writes from this new camp to his father : 

"Camp La Encantado, Mexico, 
"January 9, 1847. 

"Our column is fast breaking up; everybody seems 
pleased with it. * * * * Major Bourneville's battal- 
ion. Sixth Infantry and the Squadron Second Dragoons, 
were ordered to join General Worth's division and are now 
on their march to Camargo. * * * * The knowing 
ones say that all the regular force that can be spared is to 
be concentrated at some point on the coast for a descent on 
Vera Cruz. General Scott is in the field, and the 17th inst. 
is fixed upon for a conference between him and General 
Taylor at Camargo. There is little doubt but Scott will 
be governed in a great measure by Taylor. * * * * 
All the regular troops have left Saltillo except one company 
of the First Artillery with two howitzers. All we have re- 
maining is Washington's battery, Fourth Artillery, and a 
squadron First Dragoons. Vera Cruz is the only assailable 
point in this country. Tampico is of no value, as there is 
no practicable route for artillery into the interior, the only 
means of conveyance being by mules. 

"The route from here to San Luis Potosi is almost des- 
titute of water and is entirely impracticable at this season 

[32] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

of the year. After passing the range of the Bolson Malpini 
that now rise before us on the south, there is no water for 
ninety miles. The only season of the year when it can be 
traversed by an American army is in the summer during or 
shortly after the rainy season. Mexicans can probably cross 
it at any time, as they eat nothing and their horses require 
but little water. And if their animals should all fail, the 
next drove of mustangs would supply their places. * * * 
We have no definite rumors of peace. The Mexican people 
and government seem determined to have another brush at 
us. I wish we could get a chance to give them a sound 
thrashing and go home." 

On January eleventh Wallace, with his friends. Dr. Her- 
rick and R. E. Goodell, went to Patos, and on their return 
on the 12th found the camp had moved to Buena Vista, five 
miles south of Saltillo, and from here Wallace writes to 
his father: 

"Camp San Juan de Buena Vista, 
''January 19, 1847. 

"Our little camp has been in commotion for several days 
past in consequence of a rumor that gained credence in 
camp that a large Mexican force, variously reported from 
seven to nineteen thousand, was on the march from San 
Luis Potosi to attack us. Our small command (now re- 
duced to two Illinois regiments, Washington's Artillery, 
Colonel Yell's Arkansas Cavalry and a squadron of First 
Dragoons) moved back from the camp at La Encantado, 
Colonel Yell's regiment was called in from Potos and sta- 
tioned at La Encantado, two Indiana regiments, a part of 
General Butler's division, were quartered in the town, and 
scouting parties were sent out in every direction. * * * 
We have been in constant readiness night and day for an 
attack — the cartridge boxes were filled and each night every- 
thing was packed in the wagons except the tents and blank- 
ets ready to obey the signal agreed on between Generals 
Wool and Butler, which was the firing of two cannon in 
town in case the attack was there, and the same here if 
they came this way. * * * * Major Warren left 
Monclova yesterday with three of the companies of our reg- 

[33] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

iment and one of the Second, and will probably reach here 
in six or seven days. We shall then have all told about five 
thousand effective men — all volunteers except the squadron 
First Dragoons and the two companies artillery, and we feel 
fully competent to whip any number of Mexicans from sev- 
en to fifteen thousand. 

"If we do get into a fight you may expect to hear a good 
account of the volunteers, for every man feels the necessity 
of sustaining the insulted and jeered at character of our cit- 
izen soldiers — and this is the first opportunity we have had 
of testing the question fairly — if indeed we shall have a 
chance now. * * * * But I feel more Uke it was gen- 
uine than I ever have before and such is the general feeling. 

"The 17th inst. was the day fixed upon for a conference 
between Generals Taylor and Scott at Camargo. We have 
not yet heard the result of that conference, but rumor — that 
most constant distribution of camp news — says that General 
Taylor is coming on here to move forward this column to 
San Luis. All the regulars being called off by Scott when 
he ordered Worth to the coast looks like serious operations 
in that direction. If a vigorous attack upon Vera Cruz is 
contemplated no doubt this column will be ordered further 
into the interior with a view to force Santa Ana back into 
the City of Mexico. Vera Cruz being taken, the road lies 
open to the 'Halls of the Montezumas' and the city is not 
fortified to any great extent, so that Santa Ana would be 
bound to evacuate his garrisons at San Luis or lose his cap- 
ital. Whether we shall be ordered on this duty is doubtful. 
Our term of service is so near out that in all probability 
we will be left to garrison the posts along the line. This I 
fear more than anything else — for of all lives that of a sol- 
dier in garrison in a Mexican town is to my conception the 
most tedious. Far rather would I be on the march, even 
if we went with the giant strides that we made on the march 
from Parras. 

"I have enough to keep me busy at all times, but the men 
having little to do incur habits of idleness and dissipation, 
and it is more trouble to perform an order than when they 
are worn down by the fatigues of a long march — and then 
these numerous cases for court martial, in which it is my 

[34] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

duty to act as Judge Advocate, and this accumulates busi- 
ness upon my hands. 

"Aside from these reasons, the prospect of seeing new 
places and getting a sight of as much of the country as pos- 
sible, which is one of the principal reasons for coming, are 
additional reasons for wishing to be on the move." 

Soon after Wallace writes another letter to his father 
from the same place. 

"January 28th, 1847. 

"Since I wrote you last our camp has been thrown into 
considerable excitement by the capture of Major Borland, 
of the Arkansas Cavalry, and Major Gaines and Captain 
Cassius M. Clay, of the Kentucky Cavalry. They were 
sent out with about eighty men as a scouting party, and 
while out about fifty miles at a hacienda, were surprised and 
captured by an armed party of Mexicans. * * * * 
Colonel Yell, with about two hundred men, went out to the 
place two days ago, but could hear nothing of the party and 
sent back for leave to remain and garrison the hacienda, 
which he said he could defend against one thousand Mex- 
icans. 

"General Wool sent word for him to return at once, but 
the express met him on the retreat. Yell's advance had seen 
a larger force than he thought prudent to meet. * * * * 
Major Borland was a gallant and energetic officer, and his 
being caught asleep is a matter of great wonder to those 
who know him best. Major Gaines is also said to be a good 
officer, and Cassius M. Clay is well known for his energy 
and intrepidity. To be so taken without an opportunity of 
making a gallant defence is most unfortunate. I think the 
whole thing occured in consequence of their negligence with 
regard to guards. I know that great laxity in this respect 
existed in the Arkansas regiment; for when I visited Col- 
onel Yell at Patos, some forty miles from any of our force, 
and in the immediate vicinity of a Mexican town, owned by 
a hostile centralist, Sanchez, he had no guard whatever, and 
I rode into his camp after dark, without being challenged 
by a single sentinel. General Wool's strictness in the matter 
had the effect of making Yell and others careless and indif- 

[35] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 
ferent when away from the immediate command of the Gen- 

"General Taylor is coming on here and will be here in 
a few days with a great part of his force." * * * * 
The letter continues : 

"January 30th, 1847. 

"Captain Henry, who went out with Major Borland, 
has come in. He is a Texan and went out with the party 
as interpreter. His account of the affair is this : The party 
under Major Borland, consisting of forty-three officers and 
men picked from the Arkansas regiment, went out on the 
San Luis road on the 19th to ascertain the truth of the ru- 
mors that had kept our camp on the lookout for the last few 
days. They reached the Hacienda Incarnatione on the 
twentieth and on the twenty-first marched thirty-six miles 
beyond and saw no evidence of an enemy — on the twenty- 
second they returned to Incarnatione and encamped. 

"They had posted a guard, the night was dark and windy 
and it rained very hard — a very unusual occurrence in this 
part of Mexico at this season of the year. About twelve 
o'clock one of the sentries gave notice that he thought he 
heard the jingling of armor. The party was paraded and 
scouts sent out, but nothing was discovered. A great part 
of the force remained up during the night. * * * * 
When day dawned they discovered a large Mexican force 
encamped at about a half-mile distant in every direction. 
They were completely surrounded. 

"General Minion, who is in command of a body of Mex- 
ican cavalry, having news of the movement of the party 
from spies, which he found in every ranchero — had made a 
forced march and came up with them in the night and quiet- 
ly surrounded them, leaving till daylight the work of con- 
vincing them there was no possibility of escape. A flag of 
truce was sent in and they were required to surrender. 
* * * * Majors Gaines and Borland, after stipulat- 
ing that their Mexican guide, who had been compelled to 
accompany the party, and Captain Henry, who had been a 
Mier prisoner and escaped — should be treated with human- 
ity, surrendered as prisoners of war. In five minutes the 
Mexican guide was shot before their eyes. 

[36] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"On the second day's march Captain Henry became con- 
vinced that they intended to shoot him. The field officers 
by some whim of the Mexican commander, had been al- 
lowed to retain their horses and pistols. Major Gaines 
mounted the Captain on his mare, a noble blooded animal, 
and taking advantage of a slight gap in the line of guards, 
darted through and was out of sight before a gun could be 
fairly leveled at him. He was pursued for near a hundred 
miles and succeeded in killing two of his pursuers and elud- 
ing the remainder. 

"At length his noble mare gave out from fatigue and 
want of water and died in the mountain, he himself, after 
being out for five days without food, save a rat which he 
killed with a club, was at length picked up by the pickets at 
Aqua Nueva. 

"Fears are entertained for Major Gaines lest the Mex- 
icans suspect some connivance on his part and should visit 
on him the punishment for Henry. 

"This afternoon the Second Illinois Regiment and Artil- 
lery moved into Saltillo, leaving only eighi companies of the 
First in this camp. Three men of Captain Smith's company 
(Chicago) taking advantage of the interruption of the guard 
caused by the move, passed out and went down to a rancho 
two miles from camp and got into difficulties with some 
Mexicans about liquor and a fight ensued. I had been on 
duty in a court martial and did not go out to afternoon drill 
and was sitting in the tent when one of the men came up in 
breathless haste and said three of our men were killed. The 
Colonel was out drilling and had gone with the regiment up 
the valley two miles. I collected a few men and went out 
to the rancho and after a short search found one of the 
men lying in a deep gully with a number of large rocks piled 
on him. I leaped into the ditch, rolled off the stones and 
discovered that he still showed signs of life. We lifted him 
out and arrested all the Mexicans we saw and brought them 
into camp. By the time we reached camp we had about 
thirty. 

- "We assorted our motley crew of prisoners, having de- 
tained four of them who were recognized by our wounded 
men. White, the man whom I found in the ditch, is better, 

[37] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

and it is thought he will survive. Fenton and Hodge, the 
other two, are injured, but not seriously. 

"It was a curious scene, that, sifting and seleccing by 
moonlight, each man as he was called on doffing his broad 
sombrero and turning his copper visage to the moon, drop- 
ping his dingy blanket from his chin, to bear the scrutiny of 
the injured man. 

"Among the crowd of prisoners, miscellaneously gath- 
ered, was an Alcalde, a haciendado (proprietor of a hacien- 
da) a woman and three young bloods from Saltillo, who had 
come out with white jackets and silver hat bands to a fan- 
dango, which was about commencing — an old peon and his 
four sons, besides a crowd of ragged and filthy looking 
wretches who showed by their faces they were awfully 
frightened. 

"We had another stampede last night, but we are getting 
used to these alarms and don't mind them much now. 

"General Wool has moved his quarters into town and 
Colonel Hardin is in command of this camp." 

On February fifth "General Taylor arrived from Mon- 
terey with Jeflf Davis' Mississippi regiment, a couple of In- 
diana infantry regiments, May's squadron, an Arkansas reg- 
iment of volunteers, Bragg's and Sherman's batteries. 
General Worth, also with nine hundred regulars, and two 
splendid batteries, was at Saltillo, but these just as Santa 
Ana was known to be swooping down on Taylor with an 
overwhelming force were strangely and most unaccountably 
ordered away to join the army General Scott was organiz- 
ing for his famous march on the City of Mexico. Taylor, 
who was now left with but a trifle over four thousand men, 
and these mainly 'unbaptised' volunteers, was consolingly 
advised to seek safety by falling back on Monterey." 
(W. Osman). 

On the tenth the command in which was Adjutant Wal- 
lace, moved to Aqua Nueva, twenty miles south of Saltillo, 
from which point he writes his father: 

"Aqua Nueva, February 14, 1847. 

"On the 10th our regiment left the camp at San Juan de 
Buena Vista and encamped here, where nearly all the troops 

[38] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

of the division are now concentrated under Gen. Taylor. 
General Wool has immediate command of all except the 
Mississippi Riflemen, two companies artillery and Colonel 
May's squadron of Dragoons, which remain under the im- 
mediate command of General Taylor. 

"Our division consists of the two Illinois regiments, two 
Indiana and one Kentucky infantry. The Arkansas and 
Kentucky cavalry and a squadron Second Dragoons and 
Washington's artillery. The force all told, amounts to some 
six thousand. Wool's division is encamped about a mile 
from Taylor's." 

"February 20th. 

"Another stampede on hand. The camp is filled with 
news of Mexicans in the neighborhood. Major Warren, 
who is in command at Saltillo, has received certain infor- 
mation two or three times that a large force was in the 
immediate vicinity. Night before last he wrote to General 
Wool that the attack was about to commence simultaneous- 
ly on Saltillo and this camp. General Wool sent word to 
General Taylor, who is encamped about a mile from us. 
The old fellow got up cross, rubbing his eyes and swearing, 
'Let 'em come ! Let Santa Ana come and I'll whip him 
like a sack!' 

"The only thing that seems to indicate a movement of 
the Mexicans in this direction is the circulation of these 
various and contradictory reports. If Santa Ana should 
come on our rear with a large force and cut off our com- 
munication with the Rio Grande, they might give us some 
trouble." 

On the 21st they struck tents and moved to Buena Vista, 
from where they heard firing in the night. At eleven 
o'clock they got up and began entrenchments on the right 
of the pass. The express came in and stated that the pick- 
ets had been fired on in pass Aqua Nueva. The battle came 
on the following day. 



[39] 



CHAPTER VI. 

Battle of Buena Vista. 

THE battle occurred on February twenty-second. In 
a letter written a week afterwards to George Green, 
of Ottawa, Mr. Wallace gives a minute account of 
the battle: 

"Camp Taylor, 20 miles south of Saltillo, Mexico. 

"March 1, 1847. 
"D:ear George: 

"I've seen the elephant in every attitude, walking, 
running, at bay and fighting! You will doubtless, before 
receiving this, have seen full particulars of the battle of 
Buena Vista. 

"It is a terrible thing, this fighting. And until forty- 
eight hours before the enemy came in sight, I did not be- 
lieve we should ever see them. On Saturday evening the 
twentieth, we were lying in camp just where we now are. 
Rumors of various kinds were afloat with regard to the 
Mexican army, but we had had plenty of that sort of thing, 
I did not credit them until that time. A picket sent out 
thirty miles towards San Luis, reported that he had seen 
them in immense numbers. This was the first time they 
had been seen by white men, and for the first time I be- 
lieved they were coming. It was not fear, and yet it was 
more like fear than anything I ever felt, during the heat 
of the action when bullets flew thick as rain around me. 

"On the twenty-first we fell back to Buena Vista, which 
is five miles this side of Saltillo. 

"The First Regiment encamped at a narrow pass on the 
road, where a deeply washed gully approached within a few 
feet of a considerable hill. That night we threw up a re- 
doubt commanding the pass, which was the only practical 
road for artillery. On the morning of the twenty-second we 
commenced erecting a breastwork of stone and earth on the 
hill in front of our camp. About ten o'clock the head of 

[40] 




=« § 



> !< 
o 

J2 ra 2 



02 - ^. 



25 S 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

the Mexican column appeared in sight. They moved up in 
immense numbers and formed on a hill two miles in front 
of us — (I send you a rough sketch of the country in the 
vicinity of Saltillo, also one on a larger scale of the scene of 
the engagement, to which last I refer you by numbers for 
a description of the fight.) 

"The head of the Mexican column rested near the main 
Mexican battery. (No. 1). They continued to move up 
and form on that height till sunset. About twelve m. three 
horsemen bearing a white flag rode up the road toward our 
lines. They were met by a like party from us with an in- 
terpreter. They met and in a moment one of our horsemen 
dashed off like a dart toward our lines, rode up to General 
Taylor, who, with his staff, was then standing by our bat- 
tery at the pass. 

"The messenger brought a very polite note from the 
great Santa Ana himself, informing General Taylor that 
he had twenty-one thousand men and forty pieces of artil- 
lery, and as a means of sparing the effusion of human blood, 
he requested old 'Rough and Ready' to surrender ! 

"To this modest request Old Zack replied, 'Come and 
take us !' The First Regiment was then in position at the 
'breastworks' on the hill, that is six companies — two in the 
'redoubt' supporting Washington's battery, six pieces of 
which were then drawn up in the valley at No. 1, and two 
companies, A and I, were in Saltillo forming a part of the 
garrison of that place under Major Warren. 

"The top of the hill where the 'breastwork' was erected, 
is some three hundred feet above the valley, where the camp 
lay and a very steep ascent. From the 'breastworks' to the 
foot of the mountain on the east is a rise of about one foot 
in twelve and generally smooth, except where broken by 
ravines, as represented. 

"The point at the Mexican Battery, No. 3, commands the 
whole plateau above the ravine. The ravines were deep 
near their mouths and grew less so as you advanced to- 
ward their heads. The ground broken by deep washes is 
one of the roughest, wildest scenes imaginable ; and the 
Deep Gully running off to the west, opposite the Mexican 
Battery No. 1, is thirty feet deep and impassable, so there 

[41] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

was no dangler of an approach from that side, unless the 
enemy should send a party to cut a road. To prevent this 
the Kentucky Infantry and Sherman's Battery were sent 
across and took position at No. 2, * * * * The 'First' 
was disposed as above described. Colonel Hardin com- 
manding on the hill, and 'Old Buck' in the redoubt. 

"The Second Illinois was drawn up at No. 3, the two In- 
diana regiments on the hill at No. 4, the mounted regi- 
ments near them — the Mississippi Riflemen further toward 
the mountains on the left of the Indiana troops, Bragg's 
battery in the rear, ready to take any position which might 
be required. This was the state of things when Santa 
Ana's note came in, 

"For two hours nothing was done. Each lay off and 
watched the other. Our engineers were scattered about on 
the different hills taking note of the enemy. About two 
o'clock they commenced sending a column of light troops 
toward the mountain and they were seen scattered along the 
face of the hill. The Mississippi and Indiana Riflemen 
were sent to meet them on the mountain. At four o'clock 
the skirmishing commenced on the side of the mountain at 
No. 5. Santa Ana, who, if he is a coward, has at least 
some of the attributes of a great general, had seen the ad- 
vantage of the position at the Battery No. 3 — an advantage 
that had been overlooked by our engineers, though the 
ground had been frequently reconnoitered. A very large 
body of light troops under the command of Ampudia was 
sent into the mountains for the purpose of turning our left 
flank and gaining this position. The firing was sharp on 
both sides, but the Mexicans rather got the better of it. 
They outnumbered us two to one — and clambered up the 
mountain until they were almost directly over our skirmish- 
ers. In the meantime the Mexicans had planted their Bat- 
tery at No. 1, and three pieces of Washington's, under the 
command of Lieutenant O'Brien, were dragged up by our 
men at the head of the hollow by the 'spring' and took po- 
sition on the plateau. A few shots were fired from a Mex- 
ican twenty- four pounder at Battery No. 1, some of the 
shells falling near our battery, but doing no damage. 

"The whole scene during the afternoon was highly ex- 

[42] 











/ 



'W 










r^' 



I 



MAP OF THi: BATTLE OF BFIONA VISTA 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

citing. The skirmishing on the mountain was in full view 
of both armies, and when our party gained any little ad- 
vantage, the most tremendous cheering would follow from 
every regiment and corps. This hallooing, some of the 
Mexican prisoners say, annoyed them terribly, for they 
thought it useless to fight against men who fought for fun. 
The rattling of the musketry, the wreaths of smoke, the 
cloud that occasionally gushed from the mouth of the twen- 
ty-four pounder, followed at a short interval by its tre- 
mendous thunder, the battalioned hosts on either side, and 
last but not least, a beautiful rain-bow in the N. E. almost 
in our rear, seeming to hold out to us a brilliant hope, all 
conspired to render the scene inexpressibly grand. 

'The skirmishing continued till dark and even after dark, 
an occasionel flash far up the mountain and the boom of a 
musket showed that light was all that was wanted to renew 
the conflict. 

"Our regiment remained in its position during the night. 
I went down to camp and got my blankets and lay down 
with Colonel Hardin at the Breastworks. About eight 
o'clock I was up looking around and saw a flash and then 
a report at the foot of the hill in front of our battery where 
we had posted a picket. They soon came in with a prisoner 
— a real live Mexican soldier — this was the first one we had 
seen at close hand — he was one of a small reconnoitering 
party senc out to look at our position — the others were 
killed. 

"During the night Washington's battery was drawn with- 
in the pass and a bank thrown up to protect it. I stood 
guard on the hill alternately with the Colonel all night. Just 
before daybreak it was my watch. I saw flashes and heard 
reports near the gully at No. 6 — it was the pickets of the 
two armies lying close together all night, and firing upon 
each other as soon as light showed an object. As the light 
increased the skirmishing recommenced on the mountain. 

"A heavy Mexican column was formed and made a 
movement to march up the road. As they came opposite 
the ruined rancho and were uncovered by the hill near the 
deep gully, Washington opened his battery upon them. The 
first shell fell short but the next fell in the ranks of the 

[43] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

heavy column and the effect was terrible. It opened a gap 
wide and long, and fragments of men and horses were seen 
flying in the air. The column deployed to the right double 
quick and gained the cover of the hill in front. It moved 
up toward our left and formed near the mountain. A heavy 
battery of sixteen pounders was then planted, forming 
'Mexican Battery' No. 2. O'Brien in the meantime had 
been making it lively on the mountain — he threw a few 
shells among the Mexican skirmishers on the mountain and 
silenced the whole division, which had been playing a lively 
tune all morning. 

"About eight o'clock the engineers reported a heavy col- 
umn moving up along the foot of the mountain on our left, 
supported by a large body of lancers and under the cover 
of Battery No. 2. The Second Illinois was ordered up to 
support O'Brien, who was threatened by the advance of the 
Mexican column along the foot of the mountains. Colonel 
Bissell moved up with seven companies — two of his being 
in town and the others having gone as skirmishers to sup- 
port the Mississippians, The Kentucky Infantry were also 
ordered up from the other side of the deep gulley. 

"When the Second Illinois had reached a point near No. 
7 the whole Mexican line, battery and all, opened a murder- 
ous fire upon them. I was then standing on the breastwork 
in full view of the fight and watched with intense anxiety 
the Blue Banner of the Second enveloped as it was in 
wreaths of sulphurous smoke. It continued to fly, and as 
the Mexican column advanced firing, they opened their fire, 
and such a peal as rang along the ranks of the gallant Sec- 
ond had not before been heard on the field. They sustained 
the fire of that column, which must have been eight or ten 
thousand, for twenty minutes. Colonel Churchill then rode 
up and ordered them to fall back, which they did in good 
order, though their ranks were woefully thinned. 

"By this time the Kentucky Infantry had reached the 
field and commenced their fire. The Second were slowly re- 
tiring. Bragg's and Sherman's batteries had come up and 
opened a fire, but still the Mexican column advanced. All 
this time Colonel Hardin was keen and anxious to be or- 
dered onto the plateau. A heavy Mexican column, drawn 

[44] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

up near their Battery No. 1, threatened the road — ^but did 
not advance. At length about nine-thirty o'clock we got 
orders to move up to support the Kentucky Infantry on the 
right. Colonel Hardin moved out with four companies, 
leaving two in position at the breastworks. At the head of 
the ravine, No. 8, we encountered the first fire. We were 
advancing toward No. 7 when a heavy force concealed in 
that ravine, opened a fire on our flank. The Colonel 
wheeled his command to the right — ordered a 'charge bayo- 
nets,' and we moved up in line and soon started the game. 
They could not stand the cold steel. This was the only time 
the bayonet was resorted to during the engagement. The 
Mexicans broke and fled in disorder across that ravine and 
the next one and our boys following at a run and pouring 
in a hot fire. 

"In that ravine we killed, wounded and captured about 
one hundred and fifty of the 'Hombres'. Taken in all, that 
charge was the most brilliant thing of the day. 

"In the meantime the heavy Mexican column had turned 
our left, and a large body of infantry and lancers had 
crossed the ravine near the Mexican Battery No. 3. The 
First moved across the plateau to the ravine at No. 9 and 
were there ordered to support Bragg's battery, which was 
playing upon a force which was then planting the Battery 
No. 3. The lancers who had crossed the ravine about this 
time, made a charge on the Rancho Buena Vista, where they 
had learned our stores were. 

"I am informed that Santa Ana in a speech to his forces 
that morning before the action, told them that he had noth- 
ing to give them to eat, that two hours' fighting would se- 
cure all our stores and we had plenty. The charge of the 
lancers was a most desperate one. They were in a starving 
condition and fighting for their breakfasts. They were gal- 
lantly met by the Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry, who re- 
pulsed them with considerable loss, but in the charge Col- 
onel Yell fell. The lancers were divided and a part of them 
driven down across the gully west of the Ranche. The oth- 
ers were driven back to the foot of the mountains on the 
east, where their infantry, reinforced by a large number of 
Ampudio's light troops, had formed. 

[45] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"The Mississippi and Indiana regiments were ordered to 
charge them. The Mexican force were, however, hemmed 
in by the mounted regiments and the Mississippians and 
Indianians and brought to a stand at No. 10 about one 
o'clock; while things were in this position a white flag was 
seen advancing from Battery No. 3. Bragg held his fire 
and General Taylor rode up to our position at No. 11 and 
sent out a party to meet and receive the flag. 

"In a few minutes two Mexican officers, one of them an 
elderly man with a blue jacket and a fur collar, and the 
other a young olive-colored Spaniard, bedecked with green 
cloth and gold lace, his lower extremities enveloped in a 
most magnificent pair of fur leggings — came upon foot, 
doffed their beavers and said Santa Ana wanted to know 
'what General Taylor wanted!' 

"I was standing close to Old Zack at the time and saw 
his lips quiver. 'Tell General Santa Ana that I want him 
and his whole army to surrender and I'll treat them as pris- 
oners of war and I'll give him an hour to determine.' Some 
of his staff here suggested that the movement might be 
to gain time and that an hour was too much, so he altered it 
to half an hour. 

"The whiskered and furred and laced gentlemen touched 
their hats 'Adios, Senors,' and left. In ten minutes the 
Battery No. 3 opened with renewed vigor upon us and their 
fire was directed particularly at the white horse that Old 
Zack rode. Their cannonading was tremendous. We were 
not more than five or six hundred yards from them, and the 
shower of shots, shells, grape and cannister that hurtled 
over our heads was anything but music to our ears. One 
of their shots struck and killed a man and two horses at one 
of our guns. 

"At the same time the column of infantry and lancers at 
No. 10 commenced retreating slowly along the foot of the 
mountain under the heavy fire of Battery No. 3. A large 
body was collected in the head of the ravine in rear of Bat- 
tery No. 3. Bragg threw a few shells among them and they 
retreated in confusion along the foot of the moontain in 
rear of their battery. 

"But for the delay occasioned by the flag of truce we 

[46] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

would have captured that whole division, for they could not 
have held out against the fire that was poured upon them 
from our lines. We continued our fire upon them until 
near four o'clock the First covering itself from the Mex- 
ican battery under the side of the ravine near No. 9 — their 
volley frequently passing only two or three feet above our 
heads. 

"About four o'clock the Mexican batery No. 3 ceased 
firing and at the same time Captain Chilton, of the Quarter- 
master's Department, rode up and told Colonel Hardin that 
he was ordered to the right to make a charge — that the 
Dragoons were moving up and he must hurry or he would 
be too late. We were at that time moving up the ravine on 
the left of Bragg's and a part of Washington's batteries in- 
tending to occupy the position at Mexican battery No. 3. I 
looked round and saw the Squadron First Dragoons moving 
up quickly in our rear — on the right of our battery were 
the fragments of the Second Illinois and the Kentucky In- 
fantry at No. 12. We filed right by the heads of companies 
and passed through the battery which was still advancing, 
and came into line again on the right. 

"The First was then some distance in advance of any 
other troops in the field, but all were moving forward. Just 
as we came into line on the right I saw the bayonets of a 
heavy column over a slight rise near the head of ravine at 
No. 13, and we had not advanced twenty paces before we 
received the fire of the column. They were a reserve of 
about six thousand fresh troops who had not been engaged 
before and were brought up to cover the retreat of their 
shattered forces. As soon as we received their fire, we in- 
clined to the right, at a run and gained the cover of the 
ravine at No. 14. The five companies of the First and the 
shattered fragments of the Second then opened their fire. 
O'Brien, with his pieces, began operations — the Kentucky 
Infantry came upon our right and the most tremendous fir- 
ing ensued that ever mortal man conceived ! To give you 
some idea of the perfect torrent of shot, the whistling of 
the Mexican bullets alone was almost sufficient to drown the 
report of their guns, tho' they were only fifty yards from us. 
I kept looking over the edge of the hill to see the charge of 

[47] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

our Dragoons, as I wanted to see that very much. But in- 
stead of that I saw them turn and leave the field. 

"The Mexican column, emboldened by their retreat, ad- 
vanced upon us, outflanking us on both sides. O'Brien was 
obliged to fall back, having no troops to support his battery 
— that vast column flanked by eight hundred lancers moved 
on — we held our position until they appeared on either flank 
and the shot poured upon us from all sides. Up to this time 
the First had lost only three men killed. Colonel Hardin, 
seeing that we were entirely unsupported — that we, little 
more than five hundred men against seven thousand, and 
that they outflanked us everywhere — at length reluctantly 
gave the order to retreat. I stood by him at the time — Col- 
onel Bissell of the Second, was with us — I saw from Har- 
din's countenance that he was troubled. When the men had 
got half way down the hill, which is steep and long, he or- 
dered a halt, himself standing near the top of the hill. Most 
of our Illinois regiments halted and formed line, and if we 
had had the whole of our regiment I've no doubt Colonel 
Hardin would have charged the Mexican column with the 
bayonet. 

"As it was, the Kentucky regiment was running, and we 
could muster not more than two hundred and fifty men. 
He turned again toward the top of the hill, and I turned at 
the same time and saw the heads of the advancing foe with- 
in ten paces of us. The Colonel turned and said it was no 
use, and again gave the order to retreat. We all started 
and when I got to the bottom of the ravine I turned and 
looked back — the balls were falling like hail around us — the 
whole brink of the hill where we had just stood and on eith- 
er side was lined with Mexican Infantry in their long, tall 
hats, bedecked with tinsel, and their blue overcoats stream- 
ing in the wind ; — and what was more interesting to us just 
then, their long glittering muskets pointing directly at us 
as if they were really trying to shoot us. They are most 
miserable shots or they would have killed every one of us 
huddled as we were in utter confusion, officers and men in 
the bottom of that narrow ravine forming a focus for their 
shot poured from the top of the hill in rear and on either 

[48] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

flank. The bullets struck the rock close about me and one 
spent ball struck me on the shin — but I did not notice it till 
next day. I dodged when a few of the first ones whistled 
close to my ear ; but soon came to the conclusion that it was 
no use to dodge — if I got shot it was my bad luck and if I 
didn't, it was my good luck. So I determined to run my 
luck and I stood square up to plain, straight-forward run- 
ning. 

"About half way down the ravine I tread upon a rolling 
rock and sprained my ankle ; at the same time I dropped a 
horse pistol that I was carrying in my sword belt. Just 
then I cast my eyes up to the top of the hill on my left and 
saw several lancers riding at full speed toward the mouth of 
the ravine, and I knew their object was to cut off our re- 
treat. I turned and walked back and picked up my pistol, 
thinking I might have occasion to use it. I ran on and 
when I reached the mouth of the ravine, the lancers were 
pouring over the point of the hill at No. 15, yelling and 
cussing in Spanish like devils. I had just rounded the point 
at No. 16 when Washington's battery opened upon the 
lancers. 

"The first shell whistled close to me and burst within 
fifty yards of me. I've heard many sweet sounds — the 
voices of lovely women and the melodious breathings of 
sweet instruments, but the whistling of that shell was the 
most grateful sound that ever greeted my ear. It was ter- 
rible ; the main body of the lancers scampered back over the 
hill, leaving their colonel and several of their comrades 
dead. A small detachment of forty or fifty took shelter in 
the mouth of the ravine, and it was they that killed nearly 
all that fell of our regiment. Colonel Hardin fell by their 
hands, so did Colonel McKee and Lieutenant Colonel Clay 
(a son of old Henry's.") [Adjutant Wallace is too modest 
to relate that when Colonel Hardin was killed he rallied the 
remnant of the regiment and led it to safety.] 

"Colonel Hardin was found half an hour afterwards at 
No. 17 lanced through the body in four places, his pockets 
rifled, his sword gone and a Mexican lance, cut nearly in 
two by a blow of his sabre, lying by his side. All who had 

[49] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

been wounded by the heavy fire in the ravine and were able 
to crawl to the mouth of the ravine were there butchered 
by those infernal lancers. 

"After Washington's battery opened I took it more leis- 
urely — in fact, I was too much exhausted to run further. 
We had been on the field for more than six hours — the 
ground over which we had just run was rough, and I was 
barely able to reach the point at the battery — crawled round 
the point of the hill and lay down completely exhausted. I 
had just done so when the Mexican Battery No. 1 opened a 
tremendous fire of twenty-four pound shot and shells — they 
flew thick, tearing up the earth and stone on the point of the 
hill and raising a cloud of dust around me. I lay still, how- 
ever, until I got my breath, then went to the top of the hill 
to the breastwork just as Colonel Weatherford was going 
out with our three fresh companies, to resist the charge of a 
column that threatened us from a position near Mexican 
Battery No. 3. He took post at the head of the ravine No. 
18 and was soon joined by Colonel Lane's Indiana regi- 
ment. A few scattering shots were fired, the sun went 
down and it grew dark and parties remained in position. 

" 'Our bugles sang truce and the night cloud had lowered.' 
I went down with Colonel Weatherford to our camp to get 
something to eat and some blankets to lie upon, for I did 
not expect to sleep much. We found the camp, and es- 
pecially my tent, crowded with wounded. I was surprised 
at the coolness of my feelings as I looked upon the ghastly 
wounds and shattered limbs and heard the deep stifled 
groans of my suffering countrymen. But the fight was not 
yet over. I felt then an absolute certainty that we should 
have to re-enact the scenes of to-day as soon as light came. 

"I got a blanket from a friend and again went on to the 
hill. There was no moon, a slight breeze rustled the flag 
close to me, around lay the forms of our wearied men re- 
posing in their blankets on their arms — across the hills to 
the front the fires of the enemy's camp burned brightly ; and 
occasionally as the breeze rose and lulled, I could hear the 
creaking of wheels and the noise of some movement. This 
confirmed me in the belief that we should have another and 
a harder fight in the morning. I imagined that I could see 

[50] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

a column moving down the road, and I was certain they 
were planting heavy ordnance on the hill in front of us to 
command our position. I believe that every man of our 
command had determined to die on that hill. I felt there 
was nothing for us but victory or death. We had seen 
enough through the day to convince us we had no quarter to 
expect. Our wounded friends butchered in cold blood — the 
savage ferocity of the lancers cut off all hope in that quar- 
ter. Retreat was equally impossible. A body of two thou- 
sand lancers had entered through the Palomas pass and 
were hovering about town, and had been slightly engaged 
during the day with a detachment from town. We had rea- 
son to believe that larger bodies had been sent toward Mon- 
terey, and what I have since ascertained to be the case, the 
mountains and valleys on either side of us were filled and 
covered with rancheros from all the neighboring towns and 
settlements — even as far as Parras and Monclova, watching 
the result of the fight and ready to participate in the pil- 
lage and slaughter of our defeat. 

"Under all these circumstances courage was no virtue, or 
at least a virtue of necessity. With these thoughts and feel- 
ings I lay down with Colonel Weatherford. Neither of us 
spoke. But my fatigue soon overcame me and I went to 
sleep and slept till near daylight. I got up, the Mexican 
fires burned dim, and most of them were entirely out. I 
could hear no noise, but thought I could discover a cloud of 
dust far up the road. I could not then hope they were gone. 
I stood upon the breastwork, looking out keenly — day broke 
— it grew gradually light. I looked to the foot of the moun- 
tain at Battery No. 3 and thought I could see the dim out- 
lines of the column that rested there at dark the night be- 
fore. The light increased and I saw what I had taken for a 
column to be a row of palmetto. I looked up the road and 
saw distinctly the dust of their retreating column. Oh, 
what a feeling of relief came over me. I set up a shout of 
victory — it was a mockery, however, I had the day before 
felt very much as I should suppose a whipped man would 
feel — and I've no doubt — inter nos — had it been just as con- 
venient for us, as for Santa Ana to vanios we would have 
been off for Monterey. 

[51] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"But no matter for that, we were in possession of the 
field — the enemy was retiring, leaving his dead and wound- 
ed, or a large portion of them, on the ground. 

"During the night Major Warren's command had come 
up from town and taken post with Colonel Weatherford's 
detachment. After breakfast I walked up onto the plateau. 
I felt a curiosity to see the effect of our fire at the head of 
the ravine at No. 14. I thought during the time we were 
engaged that our men were firing too high, and I gave them 
orders to 'shoot low.' On the plateau I met with our Otta- 
wa boys. They had lain all night on the field, though not 
there during the fight. They were all as anxious as 
tigers, but I'm rather glad they were not there, for we 
should have had some of them to bury, without materially 
altering the result. I walked over the field with some of 
them. Such a scene. I shall not attempt to describe it. At 
the head of the Ravine No. 14 a pile of dead Mexicans 
showed the fatal efficacy of our fire, and nearly all were 
shot through the head, 

"We collected the wounded, who were suffering awfully 
from hunger and thirst as well as their wounds, and sent 
them to hospitals in town. During the day we collected and 
buried our dead, amounting to two hundred and seventy. 
The remains of Colonels Hardin, McKee and Clay were 
taken to Saltillo and there interred. The wounded, both 
American and Mexican, were collected and cared for in the 
hospitals there. 

"It was amusing to see our volunteers when the poor 
miserable famished Mexicans were brought in — for we took 
a large number of prisoners through the day. 'D — them,' 
they would say, 'they ought to have their throats cut, but 
let's give the poor devils something to eat,' and it was a 
treat to see them eat. They had been in a half starving 
condition during their forced march from San Luis Potosi. 
When coffee and biscuit were placed before them they 
showed even in their famished state some signs of surprise 
and gratitude. This was the greatest victory of all, a vic- 
tory unstained by blood and the feelings for its success un- 
checked by any mournful thoughts. 

"The Mexican loss in killed, wounded and missing must 

[52] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

have been at least three thousand. Our loss in killed, two 
hundred and seventy, in wounded, four hundred and sixty. 
Taken all in all, it was the Waterloo of the continent. 
Never were our arms successfully engaged against such 
fearful odds. And then it was a volunteer fight, and the 
brightest commentary on free institutions that the age af- 
fords. Aside from the artillery, all the fighting was done 
by the citizen soldiery. May's and Stein's gaudy dragoons 
constituted the pomp and pride, while the volunteer forces 
made up the 'circumstance' of the glorious fight. 

"An effort is now being made by the regular officers to 
get up the impression that we had greatly the advantage in 
position. Whatever advantage of position we had, was the 
result of our fortification at the pass, and but for Colonel 
Hardin's earnest request we would not have had that — and 
that was all lost as soon as the Mexicans gained the posi- 
tion at Battery No. 3. That point commanded the whole 
field and that battery raked our breastwork on the hill and 
shells fell and burst in our camp. You will also see by my 
description that at one time we were nearly surrounded. 
Where was the advantage of position then? No! nothing 
but the bull-dog courage and perseverance of the volun- 
teers saved the day. 

"And then in generalship, Santa Ana had greatly the 
advantage. Our forces were sent into action one detach- 
ment at a time and might easily have been cut ofif in detail. 
The seven companies of the Second Illinois Regiment met 
the shock of their main charge alone. Was this general- 
ship ? Old Zack and Wool both have personal courage, but 
in all the qualities of generalship they are wofully defi- 
cient. Colonel Hardin was more of a military genius than 
any general on the field. He reconnoitred the ground be- 
tween our position and the mountain on the morning of the 
twenty-second, and was engaged in it when the enemy 
came in sight. As soon as he returned he said to me, 'The 
fight will be up there' pointing to the plateau, 'the enemy 
will never attempt this pass while they can come there.' 

"They may try to disparage the brilliancy of the achieve- 
ment by such means, but they can't do it, and this victory is 
another severe blow on the regular army. 

[53] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"I have given my feelings and thoughts, freely and un- 
varnished, and have endeavored to give an accurate account 
of the whole affair. It is difficult for even an eye-witness 
to give all the details of so extended a field as that was, 
especially if he himself was engaged, and then there were 
frequently impediments to one's seeing all that was going 
on, — for instance while one was lying in a ravine close to 
the ground with a shower of grape splitting the air three 
feet above him, ii was difficult to tell exactly what was 
going on on the other side of the hill. 

"But I have gathered items and compared notes with 
others engaged in different parts of the field, and beHeve my 
account to be substancially correct. ****** 

"March 13th. I have been writing the above between 
times as I could snatch a moment from other duties, which 
are arduous just now. Eaton being in town I have no help 
and a great deal of writing to do. ***** 

Most sincerely yours — 

W. H. L. Wallace. 



[54] 



CHAPTER VII. 

The Illinois Troops Return Home. Wallace Endea- 
vors TO Reenter the Army. 

SOON after the battle of Buena Vista new officers were 
elected to fill the places of those slain in the battle. 
On February twenty-seventh the command moved 
to Aqua Nueva by General Taylor's order, but returned to 
Buena Vista on the tenth of March from where the follow- 
ing letter was written : 

"Camp Buena Vista, March 14, 1847. 

"Dear Father: I wrote you from this place a day or 
two after the battle. On the twenty-sixth we had an elec- 
tion to fill vacancies in our regiment. Colonel Weatherford 
was unanimously elected Colonel to fill Colonel Hardin's 
place. Major Warren was elected Lieutenant Colonel and 
Captain Richardson, Major. Our new Major is a prince of 
good fellows and a man of splendid talents. 

"On the twenty-seventh we moved to Aqua Nueva. A 
day or two afterwards a detachment was sent out to In- 
carnatione, a hacienda forty miles toward San Luis. They 
found the place filled with dead and wounded Mexicans, 
but no armed force. General Taylor sent out wagon loads 
of provisions as they were in a starving condition. * * * 
The Mexicans all say Santa Ana's prospects are ruined. 
He has written to the Governor of Saltillo that he was 
compelled by Congress to fight this battle against his 
wishes, without supplies, and that the disgrace of the de- 
feat must rest where it properly belongs — that he would 
have nothing to do with the future military movements of 
the Mexican Government. 

"I saw our old friend Don Manuel Evara from Parras. 
He says Santa Ana is moving directly for the City of 
Mexico, that a rupture between him and the Mexican Con- 
gress is anticipated. That battle was a terrible blow to the 
Mexicans. Santa Ana had displayed the most consum- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

mate generalship in the disposition of his troops. He 
knew to a man our numbers and brought enough with him 
as anyone would have reasonably supposed to crush us. He 
had sent strong detachments of horse to intercept communi- 
cation between here and Monterey and between Monterey 
and the Rio Grande, and all these different columns reached 
their destination the same day. Had he succeeded in de- 
feating us here, we would have been cut off from all re- 
treat. The mountains and valleys on every side of us were 
covered and filled with armed rancheros from even as far 
as Parras and Monclova, watching the result of the battle 
and eager to join the pillage and slaughter of our defeat. 
On the field that day he exhibited the keenest sagacity in 
detecting and seizing upon the advantages of the ground, 
advantages that had been overlooked by our commanders, 
although the ground had been frequently examined. 

"We returned here on the tenth and are fortifying our 
old position. Your affectionate son, 

W. H. L. Wallace." 

A letter written by T. Lyle Dickey of Ottawa on March 
15, 1847, tells something of the sentiment toward the volun- 
teers in Illinois. After speaking of the rumors they had re- 
ceived of an approaching battle of which they seemed to 
know nothing definite, he says : "And we are waiting anx- 
iously to hear of your glorious exploits. If you have had a 
great fight, while we rejoice that you have had a field to 
shine upon, we tremble lest some of our best loved brothers 
may have fallen, a few days must tell the story. * * * * 
There are oft repeated expressions of interest in the 
welfare of the volunteers. * * * * i don't mean that 
such interest is manifested by everybody, not so. On the 
contrary in the minds of most people in the State of Illinois 
there is a proneness to laugh at and ridicule every man who 
has entered the army. I attribute this to the jealousy of 
aspirants who wish to protect against the future popularity 
of such. The ladies are generally with you and a host of 
personal friends." 

The army remained near Saltillo over three months and 
on the eighth of May the troops left for Monterey, where 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

they encamped and gradually one regiment after another 
was discharged and sent home when their year's term of 
enlistment ended. In June the First was discharged, and 
the soldiers returned north in time to spend the Fourth of 
July at their homes. 

Mr. Wallace returned to his home in Ottawa, Illinois, 
but his taste of military life had given him a strong in- 
clination to reenter the Army. Before leaving Mexico his 
friends had written to Washington in his behalf. The fol- 
lowing letter from Colonel Sylvester Churchill, Inspector 
General United States Army, was one of these : 

Ins. Gens. Dept. Army. 
"Aqua Nueva Mex. March 8th, 1847. 
"Sir: — Having been with and witnessed the good con- 
duct of Lieutenants William H. L. Wallace and William 
Erwin of the First regiment Illinois Volunteers (late Colo- 
nel Hardin's) for nearly all the time since I mustered them 
into service at Alton last July and observed their ardor and 
gallantry at the battle of Buena Vista the 22d and 23d 
inst., I have sincere pleasure in recommending them to the 
favorable consideration of the President for the appoint- 
ment of lieutenants in any new regiment afoot which may 
be raised. I have the honor to be 

"With great respect 
"Your mo. obt. serv't 
"S. Churchill, 

"Ins. Gen." 
"To Hon. W. L. Marcy 
Secretary of War 
Washington D. C. 
Major W. A. Richardson returned home and entered 
into the practice of law. He was soon after elected to Con- 
gress from the Fifth Congressional District by a very large 
majority. He served eleven years in the House of Repre- 
sentatives and two years in the Senate. Mr. Wallace wrote 
asking his aid in getting a commission in the Army. Major 
Richardson answers the letter in August 1847, as follows: 
"Judge Douglas has promised to write to Washington for 
you and Erwin and I have written to Erwin to get Went- 

[57] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

worth to do the same, which I think he will do without hesi- 
tation. * * * * Lei; jne [jgar from you for I assure you 
I take interest in all your movements and recur now as I 
hope I ever shall to our associations with pleasure. 

"I am truly your friend 
" W. A. Richardson." 

Mr. Wallace thinking his applications at Washington for 
appointment in the army were not being attended to wrote 
and asked for them to be returned to him, and received the 
following letter from Judge Young, then Senator from 
Illinois. 

"Washington City, August 19, 1847. 
"Dear Sir: — Yours dated at Mount Morris July 30th, 
requesting me to withdraw the letters of recommendation 
forwarded to my care from Mexico, has been received, and 
I now return them to you as requested. 

"I regret to perceive at the close of your letter the belief 
expressed by you that these recommendations, which were 
certainly highly creditable to your standing as an officer, 
had not received from me that attention which was proper 
on such an occasion, and especially from an Illinoisan. 

"The moment I received these communications I 
hastened with them to the War Department and called the 
attention both of the President and Secretary of War to 
the particular merits of your case, and the highly respecta- 
ble character of the recommendations, and urged the pro- 
priety of your appointment to some permanent situation in 
the army worthy of your acceptance. 

"I was answered that there were then no vacancies, but 
your merits and claim to some such appointment was fully 
admitted and your papers placed on file, with the promise 
that you should be provided for, as soon as a suitable situa- 
tion could be procured for you. 

"There was no vacancy in the Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment from our State. 

"The only hope therefore was to get you an appointment 
in the regular army — this I have endeavored to do, but so 
far without success. ****** There are many ap- 
plications from our State for office, many more than you 

[58] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

would suppose — and but few can be gratified out of the 
many under existing circumstances. 

"The appointments from Colonel down, in our volunteer 
regiments are made by the volunteers themselves, * * * 
and when there is a vacancy in the regular army, if it is 
above Second Lieutenant, it is filled by promotion, so that 
the only place to be had for an original appointment is that 
of Second Lieutenant — and then we have to contend with 
numerous applications from the other States, as well as the 
cadets from the Military Academy at West Point. 

"I take this opportunity of sending to you some blank 
forms for land warrants. A warrant for 160 acres will sell 
here for $130 only, which may be regarded as the current 
price in this city. I am very respectfully 

Richard M. Young." 

Lieut. W. H. L. Wallace, 
Ottawa, Ills. 

In October Mr. Wallace received a letter from W. A. 
Richardson in regard to the foregoing affairs : 

"Dear Wallace: — "I received in due time your last 
letter and reply I am sorry you said anything to Judge 
Young that wounded his feelings, for Young is a clever 
man and has influence at Washington and I am satisfied he 
did everything to procure for you a situation. 

"I received a letter from the Department saying that at 
present no appointments could be made from Illinois for the 
reason that we had our full share which was a source of re- 
gret to me and the withdrawal of your application may en- 
able some other person to get the first vacancy that may 
occur. I know that Judge Ralston will resign, if he has not 
done so, this fall and I had hopes that I could get some 
friend in his place, and I have no fears but that by spring 
I could get you an appointment, as vacancies are daily oc- 
curring in the line of deaths, resignation, etc. 

"The war is not closed and will not be for some time, 
more troops will be called for and in less than six months 
you can, I think, get back to Mexico. I may be mistaken I 
will see what I can do for you. 

"Write to me at Washington, as I leave in a few days." 

[59] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Mr. Wallace answers the letter as follows : 

"Ottawa 111. Nov. 23, 1847. 

"My Dear Friend: — "I received your last just before 
you left for Washington and was gratified by the kind at- 
tention. I shall write to Judge Young immediately, making 
apologies for my rashness, as I find I was mistaken in one 
respect, that the appointment of the officers in the ten new 
regiments were made before he got my papers and I shall 
trust somewhat to you 'to make it all right with him.' 

"I believe with you that the war is not yet closed, and 
all I want is an early chance in ! I hope you may be able 
to get me something in the way of an appointment anything 
from a Quartermaster to a Major General. I'm not parti- 
cular, though I should prefer a commission in the line. 

"I enclose the recommendations forwarded last spring. 
"Most sincerely your friend, 

W. H. L. Wallace." 

"Hon. W. a. Richardson." 

The delay in receiving an appointment dragged on until 
the war with Mexico came to an end so the wish for mili- 
tary service was no longer desired. Mr. Wallace did not 
dream that when he penned the above asking in jest for a 
Major General's commission that but fifteen years later in 
an eminently greater battle than Buena Vista fought in his 
own country and against his own countrymen he would be 
in command of a division with the rank of a Major General. 

The Mexican war was the school that trained many of 
the great generals that distinguished themselves in the Civil 
War, Lee, Grant, Sherman, Bragg, Prentiss, and many 
others. Lieutenants in one war, Generals in the next. 

Mr. Wallace now settled in Ottawa and returned to the 
practice of the law, becoming a strong man in his profession 
and in his standing and influence in the community. 

He became State's Attorney in 1852 of the Ninth Judi- 
cial District, then embracing three or four counties, filling 
this rather exacting position with honor and ability for four 
years. He thus became widely known. Hon. Wm. Cullen 
in speaking of him as a lawyer says: "Having chosen the 

[60] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

law as his profession he made it his chief study and he held 
the cause of his clients a sacred trust. In the preparation 
and trial of cases he gathered in all the law applicable to the 
case and was never taken by surprise by the opposing coun- 
sel. Because of his close application and ability ere he had 
practiced one decade he ranked with the first men of the 
bar in La Salle County then famed for the many able lawy- 
ers it embraced." 

Mr. Wallace was a devoted member of the Masonic or- 
der. He belonged to Occidental Lodge No. 40 of Ottawa, 
and was Master of this Lodge during the years 1848 and 
1849. The first charter given to the Ottawa Lodge was 
from Kentucky in 1840 with the number 114. When the 
Grand Lodge of Illinois was organized in 1841, the Ottawa 
Lodge was dissevered from the jurisdiction of the Grand 
Lodge of Kentucky and because part of the Grand Lodge 
of Illinois, as Occidental Lodge No. 40, with John D. Caton 
installed as Master.* 

*From W. L. Milligan's history of Occidental Lodge, No. 40. 



[61] 



CHAPTER VIII. 
Courtship and Marriage 

ON MR. WALLACE'S return from Mexico he found 
little Ann Dickey a charming girl of fifteen. He had 
been as an elder brother in the home of Judge Dickey, 
coming and going as an esteemed and trusted friend of the 
family. He always took much interest in the bright little 
girl, often guiding her in her choice of books and in many 
ways forming her tastes in conformity to his own. She was 
of a cheerful, happy disposition, ready for fun and frolic 
and light as a fawn to run ; fearless in sports, riding the pet 
ponies bare back. But as the eldest child with an invalid 
mother many duties also developed upon her which she bore 
as cheerfully and happily as she played, displaying wisdom 
and judgment beyond her years. 

Her father, Judge T. Lyle Dickey, was one of the great 
lawyers of the Illinois bar. He was for four years a Cir- 
cuit Judge, which, in the early fifties, comprised ten or 
twelve counties. In the latter part of his life he was one of 
the Supreme Judges of the State of Illinois. As a judge he 
was noted "for the clearness of his discrimination and the 
facility with which he grasped the real points of a case; the 
absolute integrity which guided his decisions, and also the 
absolute freedom from personal feelings or partisan bias in 
the discussion or consideration of legal questions. His mind 
was essentially judicial. It seemed to be always in perfect 
equipoise." 

As his friend Judge J. S. Ewing said of him : "He was 
brave, generous, courteous and kind. He never betrayed a 
cause or a friend. He spoke kindly to the poor, sympa- 
thized with distress, was generous to a fault. There was 
no false pride born of accidental position. Can I tell of his 
fidelity to his friends, his urbane and pleasant manners, his 
hatred and scorn of wrong, his delicate and knighdy sense 
or honor, his integrity of character, which made up a 
rounded and beautiful character to be loved, admired and 

[62] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

honored. He lived with great men and was not dwarfed in 
their presence. He was a man of thought and action. He 
Hved amidst the sdrring times of a great era, and he thought 
out its problems and acted with its men. His life was a 
success measured by all the standards of human action." 

He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, a Kentuckian by birth, 
inheriting the generous impulses of her sons. Hospitality 
was to him what it was in the south in ante-bellum days, 
and in a new western country was as freely given. The 
Dickey home on the north bluff in Ottawa was always open 
to friends from far and near. When court was in session 
Judge Dickey usually had eight or ten of his lawyers friends 
as guests at his home. Abraham Lincoln many times en- 
joyed this hospitable roof ; also many other eminent lawyers 
of the state. 

Judge Dickey was but twenty years old when he married. 
His wife, Juliet Evans, of Ohio, was about the same age. 
For a time he taught school in Kentucky, — then moved to 
Illinois in 1834, he with his wife and year old baby Ann 
making the journey on horse back. Thus little Ann began 
her travels very early in life. Judge Dickey first essayed a 
business career, but soon abandoned it and studied law, 
making that his life work. 

When Ann Dickey was sixteen Mr. Wallace told her of 
his love, which astonished her very much, as she had 
thought of him more as her father's friend than as her own, 
but when she communed with her own heart she found she 
had loved him unconsciously, although she knew she had al- 
ways had great esteem and high respect for him. 

Not long before their marriage Mr. Wallace's name came 
up for nomination to Congress at the Whig convention at 
Joliet in 1850. The other Whig nominee outdistanced him 
in votes, but was defeated in the election by the Democratic 
candidate. In a letter from Mr. Wallace to Miss Dickey at 
this time he says : "You heard your father speaking of the 
proposition to make me a candidate for Congress. I hope 
for your sake it may succeed. * * * j own that I am 
somewhat ambitious, — that to be known and distinguished 
has its charm for me, — that to be placed in a position where 
I might wield an influence for myself and friends would be 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

gratifying, — that I occasionally indulge in day dreams 
which are touched with a tinge of the magnificent, — but, 
Ann, if all this fancied distinction and influence were to be 
purchased at the price of one pang to you, or were offered 
in exchange for one moment of your dear love, it would be 
found like those men mentioned in the Scriptures who were 
'weighed in the balance and found wanting.' " 

In February, 1851, the wedding occurred after a two 
years' engagement, when the bride was scarcely eighteen 
years of age, and the groom twenty-nine. Their wedding 
journey was a trip to Chicago. As there was no railroad at 
that time through Ottawa, they went to Aurora by carriage 
and from there by rail. 

They soon went to housekeeping in their own little home, 
as the young wife said : "What a proud happy child I was ! 
To me he was all that was greatest, best, truest and most 
tender in the world, — and this had come to me and I was 
part of it. Years of pain and ill health came to me, but 
never an unhappy moment, for every hour of pain dis- 
closed to me the wealth of love, sympathy and self-sacrifice 
that lived for me in that great heart." During all their 
eleven years of wedded life never an impatient or unkind 
word passed the husband's lips. 

Mrs. Wallace was brought up a Presbyterian, the Dickey 
family, far and near, also being of that religious connec- 
tion. Her grandfather was James H. Dickey, a Presby- 
terian minister, widely and favorably known in central Il- 
linois for his superior ability and worth. When Mrs. Wal- 
lace was sixteen she heard, for the first time, an Episco- 
palian service, which appealed to her very devout religious 
nature. She from that time studied into the tenets of that 
church and later became a very earnest and devoted mem- 
ber. 

Mr. Wallace was brought up a Methodist, but always 
attended the Episcopal church with his wife, although he 
never became a communicant, but probably would have 
done so had his life been spared. 

Mr. Wallace, in his extensive law practice, was much 
away from home. In February, 1854, he writes : "Al- 
though in traveling I see a great many women I see none 

[64] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

that can compare with my own Ann. The knowledge, ex- 
perience and observation I have in the world but makes me 
love you the more, and the more highly appreciate the 
blessing I enjoy in such a wife as you are to me. God 
bless you, Ann, and may He long spare us both to be a 
comfort and happiness to one another." 

In the summer of 1854, Mrs. Wallace, not being very 
well, they concluded to take a trip east. They went from 
Chicago to Detroit, thence by boat to Buffalo, thence to 
Montreal. Mr. Wallace writes from there to Judge 
Dickey: "We reached here last evening after a delightful 
run down Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence rapids. This 
is a great city, beautifully located. We have abandoned the 
idea of going further down the St. Lawrence and will start 
at 5 o'clock for Lake Champlain and Lake George." 

From Albany they took a Hudson river steamboat for 
New York, where occurred what might have been a tragic 
ending to their pleasant trip. They were just leaving the 
boat at the wharf, Mrs. Wallace was on the gang plank, 
Mr. Wallace still on the boat, when the plank slipped from 
its moorings on the wharf, throwing all those that were on 
it into the salt water twenty feet deep. Mrs. Wallace 
was thrown some distance. The instant she was thrown in 
Mr. Wallace took off his coat, watched where she came up. 
jumped into the water and swam to her. 

When she found herself in the water, she remembered 
what she had learned at school, that when in the water, if 
the arms and limbs can be kept under the face will float. 
With perfect calmness and self possession she did this. 
She said afterwards her entire life came to her — she 
thought she would of course drown, but experienced no 
fear of death. 

Mr. Wallace, as he swam to her, feared she might grab 
him, and said to her, "steady Ann." She answered, "I 
am steady." He took hold of her and swam to a boat, 
clinging to it until a small boat came to their rescue. While 
they were still in the water, Mr. Wallace said, "Ann took 
it very cool, remarking it was her first introduction to salt 
water." 

From New York they went to Philadelphia and Boston. 

[65] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

On their way home to IlHnois Mrs. Wallace stopped in 
Ohio for a visit among relatives there. From there she 
writes to her husband in September: "I long to put my 
loving arms around your neck and then feel in return your 
strong, kind arms drawing me closer and closer to your 
warm heart, those dear arms that saved me from the wa- 
ter, and the brave heart that prompted the fearful leap. 
Dearest, the more I think of that frightful incident, the 
more I appreciate your great love for me, and the more I 
thank my Heavenly Father for giving me such a husband. 
May He put it into my heart to be a better wife to you 
than I have ever been before. I can not love you more, 
but I may be more useful. I am coming to you the first 
opportunity of company that I have. The day that we are 
both home together will be one of the happy days of my 
life. All the days will be long until that one comes." 

Mr. Wallace, who had returned home to Ottawa, writes 
to his wife about the same time: "I went to see Mrs. N — 
this afternoon. She had heard the story of your fall in the 
water at New York and had a hundred questions to ask 
about it. She said when I told her of your putting your 
hands behind you and holding your face up and how you 
came to think of it — "God told her." Our little home is 
still all right except you, its soul and life. How do you 
bear up under our separation, dearest? I find it harder 
than I supposed. I find myself constantly thinking of you. 
I believe I have reviewed again and again every moment 
of our happy wedded life since I saw you. I believe I 
love you more dearly now, Ann, than I ever did before, 
and more fully appreciate and prize your great love for 
me. What I should be or do without you, God in heaven 
only knows. I cannot patiently contemplate the possibility 
of that darkness that would surround me, if you, the light 
of my life, were extinguished. Come to me, Ann, as soon 
as you can. I feel distrustful of circumstances, having so 
great a risk upon your safe return." 

Mrs. Wallace had for some years been more or less 
troubled with rheumatism, and in the year 1857 it was so 
severe as to make her almost helpless, and Mr. Wallace 
determined to take her to Hot Springs, Arkansas, then a 

[66] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

more formidable undertaking than at the present day with 
railroad facilities. As Mrs. Wallace said. "He Hterally 
carried me in his arms to the Hot Springs and was made 
happy by bringing me home perfectly restored." 

They went down to Cairo by rail, then by boat down the 
Mississippi and up the Arkansas river to Little Rock, tak- 
ing four or five days, then going by stage-coach and car- 
riage over sixty miles to Hot Springs, over rough, stony 
roads, stopping for the night in a log cabin in the woods. 

A letter from Mr. Wallace to Judge Dickey will show 
the primitiveness of the Hot Springs of that period. 

"May, 14th, 1857. 

"There are two houses here, or rather two establish- 
ments, each consisting of several houses — one is called the 
'Rector House' and the other the 'Hale House,' named 
after rival claimants of the grounds containing the 
springs, the title to which is in dispute. They are situ- 
ated in a deep hollow between two steep mountains that 
rise abruptly to a height of about a quarter of a mile, and 
are covered with pines, the course of the valley is from 
north to. south, and the hot water issues from the mountain 
east of the hollow near its top and is brought down in 
troughs to bathing houses near the hotels, where it is ap- 
plied by pouring, showering, in vapor, — in the ordinary 
way, and in what they call 'mud baths,' which are what 
their name imports, mud holes in which the patient is im- 
mersed to the throat. There are several springs, differing 
somewhat in temperature from one hundred to one hundred 
and fifty degrees, and also differing somewhat in their anal- 
ysis, though not materially. 

"We are pleasantly located at the 'Hale House' with 
a large comfortable room on the ground floor ; the bathing 
rooms are just across the 'branch.' * * * * fj^g ^\ji. 
ing room is just across the narrow street from the building 
in which we have our quarters. The charge for board, 
lodging and bath, thirty-five dollars a month. There are 
about a dozen ladies here." 

Mr. Wallace left his wife and her little sister at the Hot 
Springs and returned to Illinois. In Little Rock he writes 

[67] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

about meeting Dr. Borland, whom he had known in the 
Mexican war as Major of the Arkansas regiment, and who 
was spoken of earlier in this narrative as being captured by 
the Mexicans surrounding the place where he was with 
some eighty men one dark, rainy night. He was after- 
wards United States Senator from his State. 

Mr. Wallace, in a letter to his wife, speaks of its taking 
eleven days for her letter to come, which ought to have 
come in seven or eight. He says, "If our separation, pain- 
ful as it is to both of us, results in the realization of my 
dear hope that you will be permanently restored to health, 
I shall feel a thankfulness to our Heavenly Father such as 
I never felt before. My constant prayer to Him that in 
His wisdom and mercy will so order that you may be re- 
stored to me 'whole and sound'." 

Mrs. Wallace remained at the Hot Springs for a couple 
of months, when her husband went for her, bringing her 
home cured. 

An amusing letter was received from Mrs. Wallace's 
young brother Cyrus, who, with other relatives, was at the 
Wallace home in Ottawa during her absence. It gives a 
little glimpse of the life and hospitality of the little cot- 
tage home. 

"Ottawa, July 2d, 1857. 

"Pa, Mrs. C — and baby and Philander came on Tuesday 
and went on to Chicago yesterday. John is here, also Alice. 
Your old friends? Mr. and Mrs. S — , came up on Tuesday 
and made us a visit en route to Morris — with them and 
father's troupe we had a pretty full house, but got along 
very smoothly saving one little accident which I must tell 
you of. Mrs. S — , being quite tired, concluded to go to bed 
before prayers, and being of an economical turn of mind, 
blezv out the gas before lying down. Meantime, I got one 
of Scott's Bibles with copious notes. Mr. S — selected a 
very long chapter in Romans and read and commented on 
all the notes as he went along — then offered a prayer of ex- 
traordinary length and breadth, which I verily believe cov- 
ered everything on the earth, except the hole from which 
the gas was escaping in the bed room. But it finally had an 

[68] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

end, and if the window in the bed-room had not been up, I 
fear the old lady would have had an end also." 

One thing was lacking in this almost ideal home — the 
little child — the parental love in the heart was unfulfilled, 
the place was empty. A tiny babe left motherless appealed 
to the motherlove so strong in Mrs. Wallace the yearning 
was irresistible and the little one of three weeks old was 
taken into their lives and loved and cherished as their own, 
even jealously so; she grew to womanhood in an atmosphere 
of the most devoted love, knowing no other bonds of re- 
lationship. 

For nine years they lived in their little cottage home on 
"the ridge" in Ottawa. As Mr. Wallace's fortunes improved 
they built a substantial stone house on the bluff adjoining 
the Dickey homestead. 



[69] 



CHAPTER IX. 
Dickey and Wallace Against Lovejoy in 1856 and 1858. 

THE year 1856 saw marked changes in political par- 
ties. Slavery was the great question that held all 
minds and the line that divided all parties. The 
Missouri Compromise bill of 1820, which admitted Missouri 
into the Union as a slave state with the proviso that all 
states formed of the territory west and northwest should 
be free, was thought at chat time to have quieted the slave 
question indefinitely, if not forever. But with the newly 
acquired territory from the Mexican war coming into the 
Union as States, the old sore was opened afresh, especially 
when the Missouri Compromise was repealed in 1854 and 
the Kansas-Nebraska bill, furthered by Stephen A. Doug- 
las, passed, giving new States the option of framing their 
own constitutions as to whether they should be free or 
slave. The country was in a turmoil and the halls of Con- 
gress rang with eloquent and angry speeches on both sides. 
The people, north and west, were no less loud in their de- 
nunciation of the measure which opened up all territories 
to the spread of slavery. All parties felt as if they must 
unite to stem this evil, and the Republican party came into 
being with the marked object of excluding slavery from the 
territories. It had had its birth in a small way in Illinois 
in 1854, but was gradually growing in power and strength, 
absorbing within its fold Whigs, Northern Democrats, 
Free Soil and Abolition adherents. In 1856 the new party 
nominated their first Presidential candidate in the person 
of John C. Fremont, of California. 

The American, or Know Nothing Party, put up Millard 
Fillmore. This party was a secret society much older than 
the Republican party, but had become a great political pow- 
er. Their creed was "America for Americans, non-inter- 
ference of foreigners, or the domination of Roman Cath- 
olicism in political affairs." The A. P. A. that arose a de- 
cade or two later, was very similar in its tenents. 

[70] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

The Democratic party put up James Buchanan of Penn- 
sylvania for President. 

Mr. Wallace was a Whig until this year, when he joined 
the Republican party. He was a member of the conven- 
tion who nominated Fremont for the Presidency and one 
of the committee who went to New York to announce to 
him his nomination. The following letter was written from 
Philadelphia at this time to his wife : 

"Philadelphia, Thursday, June 19, 1856. 
"I have been here since Sunday and have been very 
busy. I write now in great hurry. We have just concluded 
our business here by nominating Colonel Fremont for Pres- 
ident and Wm. L. Dayton of New Jersey for Vice-presi- 
dent. I go to Washington City to-night and back to New 
York to-morrow night. * * * * j don't feel altogether 
satisfied with our nominations but hope for the best. I 
think of you often and sometimes wish you were here, and 
again am glad that you are not. The houses are crowded 
— a great crowd of earnest, excited and noisy men." 

The Democratic nominee, James Buchanan, won the 
election, which put the slavery element in power. Kansas 
became the battle ground of the contending factions in 
Congressional debates no less than on the actual soil. The 
slavery element desired to fill the territory with settlers 
from the South to predominate in the vote for a Constitu- 
tion favorable to slavery. The anti-slavery or Northern ele- 
ment were equally anxious to bring in the settlers that 
would make it a free state. Hence, battles, murders and 
ejections of settlers ensued between the warring factions. 

Charles Sumner was the leader of the Anti-Slavery 
cause in Congress, and Jefferson Davis, the leader of the 
Southern side. The great men — Webster, Calhoun and 
Clay — were dead, who had made the halls of Congress ring 
with their eloquence. In one of Sumner's speeches he re- 
flected on the honor of a Southern member, which so an- 
gered this Southerner's nephew that after the session had 
closed, he assaulted Sumner in his seat with a heavy cane 
and with such force that his life was almost despaired of, 

[71] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

and made him an invalid for some years, so he could not 
attend to his duties in Congress. This assault aroused a 
strong feeling in the North. It was taken up as a political 
question and not merely a personal one. This outrage, ad- 
ded to the decision of the Supreme Court in the Dred 
Scott case, showing that the highest judicial tribunal in the 
country was pro-slavery, and with the administration's ef- 
forts to force Kansas into the Union with a constitution 
which recognized slavery, begat an intense feeling in the 
anti-slavery element that aided the Abolition party. 

This party, although ultra and extreme and its adher- 
ents hated and persecuted, was gaining ground and receiv- 
ing more favorable and intelligent attention as the think- 
ing men were coming more and more to see that the slavery 
question was disrupting the nation. The question must 
be solved one way or another. 

Although the Republicans lost on the Presidential elec- 
tion, Illinois went Republican throughout in the State tick- 
et. Owen Lovejoy, a Congregational minister of Prince- 
ton and a rank Abolotionist, was a candidate for Congress 
in the Third Congressional District on the Republican tick- 
et. Congressional appointments were very important, as it 
was on the floor of Congress that the great national ques- 
tions were being battled over and decided. 

The desire was to keep a balance of power between the 
adherents of slavery and those against its non-extension 
so as to give neither the upper hand. 

Scarcely at any time in our history were the debates and 
laws passed so prominent, so important and absorbing as 
the decade or more before the Civil War. So to be sent 
to Congress in those days was no small honor and responsi- 
bility. 

Lovejoy, as I. N. Arnold says : "Was a man of power- 
ful physique, intense feeling and of great magnetism as a 
speaker. He went forth like Peter the Hermit, with a heart 
of fire, a tongue of lightning, preaching his crusade against 
slavery. He lived to see slavery die amid the flames of 
war which itself had kindled." 

His intense views were not entertained by all people who 
might admire the zeal and fearlessness of the man, but 

[72] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

thought his opinions too radical for the times, as many 
favored a middle course, or compromise, in hopes that time 
would help the solution of the vexed question. Many, al- 
though not favoring slavery, thought, according to the Con- 
stitution, the Central Government could not interfere with 
States' rights. Some advocated gradual emancipation, cer- 
tainly a normal and fair way of settlement. 

A great evil, however, sometimes demands fanatics in 
the beginning to educate the public opinion to eradicate it. 
Abolitionists, with the powerful aid of- Mrs. Stowe's "Uncle 
Tom's Cabin," published in 1852, did much to hasten open 
hostilities between the adherents of slavery and those 
against its extension. It seemed nothing but war could 
finally settle it. Pacific measures and compromise could 
only for a time stay the impending rupture, but could not 
stop the violent current rushing on to civil war. 

The Republican Congressional Convention met at Bloom- 
ington on July 15th and made very moderate resolutions. 
"They merely denounced the Administration for its course 
regarding Kansas, stigmatized the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise as an act of bad faith, and opposed the exten- 
sion of slavery into the territories." Owen Lovejoy was 
put in nomination for the Third District. Many objected 
and desired another candidate. 

An anti-Love joy convention was held in Ottawa on 
July 26th. Delegates were in attendance from McLean, 
DeWitt, La Salle, Putnam and Vermillion counties, and put 
Judge Dickey in nomination. An interesting account of this 
is given by Judge Dickey in a letter to his son John, which 
gives a clear idea of the middle course advocated by con- 
servative men. 

"Chicago, Illinois, July 29th, 1856. 

"We are in the midst of a political tornado. The Con- 
gressional convention of Fremont men met at Ottawa on the 
2d of this month nominated for Congress Rev. Owen Love- 
joy, a rank old-fashioned Abolitionist. About half the del- 
egates bolted the nomination and called another convention 
to nominate another candidate who would not only oppose 
the introduction of slavery into Kansas, but would at the 
same time be true to the acknowledged rights of the South 

[73] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

under the Constitution, embracing their right to recapture 
runaway slaves — and who in general would exercise a spirit 
of fidelity and fraternity to the people of the South and 
avoid all unnecessary cause of difference. That convention 
put me in nomination. And I am now a candidate for Con- 
gress in the midst of the hurricane preaching peace, frater- 
nity and fidelity. I am stemming a terrible current with- 
out any reasonable certainty of success." 

His friend. Judge David Davis of Bloomington, real- 
izing the fruitlessness of the contest, wrote him the follow- 
ing very vehement letter, which gives a good idea of the 
state of public opinion at that date : 

"Bloomington, Illinois, July 18th, 1856. 
"Dear Dickey: 

"I think so much of you and have your interests so near 
my heart that I know you will consider this letter as hav- 
ing been written with the best of motives whether the con- 
tents harmonize with your views or not. 

"I did not dream that you would have taken the nomina- 
tion for Congress, else I would have given up my business 
in Fayette County (where I was on Wednesday) and been 
present at Bloomington. I had told Gridley that with the 
feeling in these southern counties that a nomination against 
Lovejoy would end in defeat. The readiness with which 
many persons support Lovejoy is surprising. It probably 
can be accounted for for several reasons. In the first place 
— the outrages in Kansas, and the general conduct of the 
Administration, with the attack on Mr. Sumner, have made 
Abolitionists of those who never dreamed they were drift- 
ing into it. These principles and the feelings which under- 
lie them were more active and vigilant than the feelings 
and principles which you and I entertain, and hence, in a 
very great measure the nomination of Lovejoy. Many men 
again express great regrets that he is nominated, but think 
that he will vote right on the question of the extension of 
slavery, and are willing that he should vote his Abolition 
sentiments in other respects rather than send a Democrat 
to Congress who will vote to uphold slavery further. 

[74] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"A third class think he was fairly nominated and should 
be sustained. Again, many would vote for you if the race- 
was between you and Love joy alone who will not do it now, 
believing that Lovejoy is regularly nominated and is the 
strongest. Again, there are another class of people who 
think that this fusion war of all elements and whoever 
adopts the fusion platform should be voted for, no matter 
how wrong the other sentiments are. 

"Now, my dear friend, I am not stating these things by 
way of any justification for those who act, but simply as 
reasons (unsatisfactory to us as they may be) why the peo- 
ple are predisposed to vote for Lovejtoy. I think the grand 
reason after all is that his views and opinions are becoming 
the views and opinions of a majority of the people. 

"It is plain that the elements now uniting in electing 
Colonel Fremont and Colonel Bissell can't coalesce long 
They will have one feeling in common, but antipodes in 
everything else. If Kansas gets admitted as a free state 
the party is ipse facto dissolved. What elements will unite 
in the formation of new i:»arties, time alone can determine. 
I feel an all abiding faith that you and I will belong to the 
same political organization. 

"This nomination of Lovejoy deadens enthusiasm,, dis- 
pirits and causes all people who really love the Union of 
the States to pause. * * * * But it may be asked 
what you and I and those who think with us are to do. 
Simply to vote in this canvass for those we can conscien- 
tiously vote for, and eschew the others. * * * * \Ye, 
the old Whig party, will be stricken down during this cam- 
paign. Had we not better bide our time, brush up our 
armor for future operations? * * * * 

"You can literally do nothing in these southern counties 
unless by a thorough and systematic canvass, speaking to 
be done in every precinct. If Osgood was out of the way 
by doing this Lovejoy could be beaten. 

"To do all these things would require great labor and 
great expense of time and money. The labor and expense 
is not to be considered where success is likely to be ob- 
tained, but should be taken into the account when success, 
is, to say the best, problematical. * * * * 

[75] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"If I did not feel a deep interest in whatever concerns 
you I would not have thus written, and I know you will 
consider everything as well meant. Do nothing hastily, but 
after gathering all the facts, decide according to the very 
right of the case. Your friend as ever, 

"David Davis." 

Judge Davis wrote to Mr. Wallace the following day in 
the same strain. 

"Bloomington, Illinois, July 19, 1856. 
"My Dear Friend : 

"I have written a long letter to Judge Dickey and sent 
by this mail. I know that he will be beaten and that it is 
labor, time and talents wasted in making this race. 

I did not dream that he would have accepted the nomi- 
nation, else I would have foregone my business and been 
here. Pray, prevent him from running. 

"Lovejoy was not here last night, but I am told that the 
ratification meeting was enthusiastic, and about all the old 
Whig lawyers gave in their adhesion to Lovejoy. * * * 
"I want Dickey to withdraw before he gets his feelings so 
aroused that he would continue on the track through mere 
pride. 

"Excuse the earnestness with which I write. * * * * 
Read the letter to Dickey if he is out of town and you will 
see my views hastily written out. 

"I wish I could see you and talk with you. 

"In haste, your friend, 

"David Davis." 

Judge Davis was a very prominent man in the State of 
Illinois; for many years a Circuit Judge. He and Lincoln 
rode the circuit together. Afterwards he was a judge in the 
United States Supreme Court, resigning to accept a seat 
in the Senate, and in 1877 was a possible Presidential nomi- 
nee. He and Judge Dickey were very warm friends 
throughout their lives. 

On September 13th Judge Dickey withdrew his name for 
Congressman against Lovejoy, who was elected by a plu- 

[76] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

rality of six thousand votes over the Democratic candidate, 
Uri Osgood. 

Judge Dickey, although a Southern born man, did not 
favor the extension of slavery. He inherited slaves him- 
self, but freed them, although at the time he was heavily in 
debt through signing the bond of a dishonest partner, when 
the money he might have received from the sale of the 
slaves would have been most acceptable. 

The following letter from S. B. Buckner to Mr. Wallace 
is interesting historically on account of the after career of 
General Buckner, and also showing the state of our militia 
service in the year 1857. 

"Simon Bolivar Buckner was born in Kentucky in 1823. 
He served in the Mexican war and after the war was as- 
sistant instructor of infantry tactics at West Point. He re- 
signed and went to Chicago as Superintendent of Construc- 
tion of the Custom House in that city. While there, in 
1855, he was made Colonel of Volunteers raised in Illinois 
in that year for the Utah expedition, but not mustered into 
service. He afterwards practiced law in Kentucky, and at 
the outbreak of the Civil War entered the Southern Army 
as General. At Fort Donelson on February 16th, 1862, he 
surrendered to General Grant with sixteen thousand men as 
prisoners of war. He was later exchanged and made Ma- 
jor-General, and was in the Southern service till the close 
of the war. He was afterwards Governor of Kentucky." 

The letter reads : 

"Chicago, January 10th, 1857. 
"Major : 

"I have been casting about in my own mind for some 
time past to find some one who, while he would accept the 
office of Adjutant-General of the State, would enter upon 
the duties with a purpose to attend to them, and to infuse 
some life into our military system. You know full well the 
entire disuse into which the present system has fallen and 
the dead weight which those who feel any interest in mili- 
tary affairs have to carry. The appointment of an efficient 
Adjutant-General would strike at the root of the disease 

[77] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

which so extensively pervades the miUtary body. Support- 
ed as he would be by a soldier for the Commander-in-Chief 
he could exert an influence on military matters which has 
long been needed and without which no life can be felt in 
the extremities. 

"For several weeks past, it has been my purpose to sug- 
gest your name in this connection to Judge Dickey. I have 
done so to-day, and it has been after conferring with him 
that I have addressed a communication to Colonel Bissell 
in which I have ventured to suggest your name for this po- 
sition. It may appear to you and to Colonel Bissell, with 
whom I have only a slight acquaintance, an act of vanity 
or impertinent assumption on my part to recommend for 
this position a gentleman so much more widely known than 
myself, but I have been actuated by a desire to promote the 
interests of the military of the State ; and under the suppo- 
sition that it probably only required a suggestion of your 
name to secure your appointment. 

"My object in addressing to you this note is to ask you to 
consent to take charge of the duties of the office. If you 
do so it will have to be on your part a labor of love. The 
salary is merely nominal, only $100.00 per year, but I trust 
you will consider the present lamentable condition of our 
military affairs, and the necessity of relieving the state 
from the odium which attaches to its military organization. 
No time is more propitious to introduce a reform. With 
both the Governor and his chief executive officer partici- 
pants in our late war and associated with the state troops 
in service, we would have reason to expect a salutary 
change. If nothing can be done during the present session 
of the Legislature to remodel the military, you could, in 
conjunction with the Governor, perfect by the meeting of 
the next Legislature a system whose effects might be bene- 
ficially transmitted through long years to come on the mili- 
tary institutions of the State. 

"I hope you will take this matter under advisement and 
for the benefit of those of us who take an interest in mili- 
tary affairs and desire to foster a military spirit amongst 
ourselves, speedily decide to accept the position. If you do 
so, cannot you meet me in Springfield? I propose to go 

[78] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

there on Saturday or on Sunday night to remain only two 
or three days. My object will be to do what I can towards 
obtaining a revision of the military laws. If you have a 
little time to devote to this it is probable something may 
be accomplished even during the present legislature. If you 
cannot meet me, please address me a letter at Springfield. 
With much regard, I am, Major, 

"Very respectfully and truly yours, 

"S. B. BUCKNER.'' 

Mr. Wallace did not consider the matter of the Adjutant 
Generalship, and did not accept the position as advised by 
Major Buckner. Later Major Buckner, himself, became 
Adjutant-General of Illinois Militia, but resigned in Decem- 
ber of the same year. 

Colonel William H. Bissell, who had served in the Mex- 
ican war, became Governor of Illinois in 1857, taking the 

oath of office on January 12th. 

******* 

Although 1858 was not a Presidential year, it is a me- 
morable one in Illinois politics, and without doubt the most 
famous in her history with far reaching results. The con- 
test between Judge Douglas and Mr. Lincoln for the sen- 
atorship, although local, brought the state into national pol- 
itics and fame and introduced Abraham Lincoln to the en- 
tire country, which resulted later in his becoming Presi- 
dent. 

Stephen A. Douglas was one of the most prominent and 
best known men in the country, owing to his many years in 
Congress, first as a Representative, and then for twelve 
years a Senator. Abraham Lincoln was a country lawyer, 
little known outside his state. This year Douglas was run- 
ning for re-election to his seat in the Senate and Lincoln 
was contesting the place with him. Douglas was a Demo- 
crat and was the man who introduced the famous Kansas- 
Nebraska Bill into Congress, but was against the Buchanan 
or Southern element of the party who wished to force Kan- 
sas into the Union with a constitution favoring slavery. 
Douglas had fought this issue with all his might and on this 
platform he was running, so he had the split in his own 

[79] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

party to contend against as well as his Republican oppon- 
ent. Lincoln was running on a purely Republican platform 
— "Non-extension of Slavery into the Territories." 

On the 16th of June the Republican Convention met at 
Springfield and endorsed Lincoln as their choice for United 
States Senator. At this time Lincoln made his wonderful 
speech that began his fame and eventually landed him in 
the White House. It was the few opening sentences that 
were so effective and powerful and are here quoted: "If 
we could first know where we are and whither we are tend- 
ing we could then better judge what to do, and how to do 
it. We are now far into the fifth year since a policy was 
initiated with the avowed object and confident promise of 
putting an end to the slavery agitation. Under the opera- 
tion of that policy, that agitation has not only not ceased, 
but has constantly augmented. In my opinion it will not 
cease until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. A 
house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this 
government cannot endure permanently half slave and half 
free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not 
expect the house to fall — but I do expect it zvill cease to be 
divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. 
Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further 
spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in 
the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction, or, 
its advocates will put it forward till it shall become alike 
lawful in all the States, old as well as new. North as well 
as South. Have we no tendency to the latter condition?" 
This speech made a profound impression ; some said it was 
in advance of the times, others that such sentiments would 
bring on civil war. Others of his friends, although not fav- 
oring the extension of slavery, urged moderation for his 
own good and that of his party and not to make such ut- 
terances in the future. Lincoln was far seeing, brave and 
true, with patriotic desire for the well being of his country 
more than political advancement for himself. The truth 
should be uttered regardless of the consequences to himself 
or his party. 

Leonard Swett, a brilliant lawyer of Illinois, and an 
astute political observer, said : "The first ten lines of that 

[80] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

speech defeated him for the Senate. It was a speech made 
at the commencement of a campaign and apparently made 
for the campaign. Viewing it in this hght, nothing could 
have been more unfortunate or inappropriate. It was say- 
ing the wrong thing first, yet he saw it was an abstract 
truth, and standing by the speech would ultimately find him 
in the right place." 

Lincoln challenged Douglas to a joint debate on the issues 
between the two parties which was accepted by the great 
Senator, and seven meeting places were named — Ottawa, 
Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy and 
Alton. These debates attracted the attention of the entire 
United States and brought thousands within the hearing of 
the two "intellectual giants" at each meeting. 

The first opened at Ottawa on August 21st in Washing- 
ton Square in the middle of the town with an eager and 
attentive audience. After the meeting Douglass walked 
away almost unattended and returned to his hotel nearby. 
Lincoln was carried, under his protest, on the shoulders of 
his enthusiastic adherents to the home of the Mayor, J. O. 
Glover, but half a block distant. Here he had to make a 
short speech to the gathered crowd. Mr. Lovejoy was 
called on for one also, then W. H. L. Wallace closed with a 
few remarks and the crowd dispersed. 

At Freeport, it is said, the questions propounded by Mr. 
Lincoln to Judge Douglas and his answers to them were the 
causes that defeated him for the Presidency in 1860, as in 
these answers Judge Douglas lost the support of the South 
which divided the Democratic party and gave the Presi- 
dency to the Republicans. 

Politics all along the line from the Senatorship down 
was very spirited in the State this year. Owen Lovejoy 
was up for re-election for Congressman, and while still in 
Washington sent letters broadcast to his constituents in the 
district. He still had many opponents, although his aboli- 
tion principles were gaining ground. Mr. Wallace was de- 
sired by his friends to run against him for the Republican 
nomination, and some letters are here given on the subject 
and also to show the political feelings of the day on the 
other stirring questions. Judge Champlain, a prominent 

[81] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

lawyer of Ottawa and later law partner of Mr. Wallace, 
writes the following letter : 

"Ottawa, June 4, 1858. 
"Dear Sir: 

"The time is at hand when delegates are to be elected to 
the State Convention at Springfield and to the Congression- 
al Convention at Joliet, and I think a good deal depends 
upon the wisdom with which the delegates are selected. 

"My own opinion is that this State was lost to Fremont 
by the Congressional nomination made in this and the Chi- 
cago districts in 1856, and if the same course is pursued 
again I believe it will be attended with the same result. I 
entertain no doubt that the Congressional nominations now 
to be made ought by every consideration of justice as well 
as wisdom, to be from either the Conservative Whig or 
Democratic portion of the Republican party, and I believe 
this opinion to be shared in by the great majority of the 
party. But it will take some exertion to secure this result 
and hence, I write to you that if you see fit you may use 
such exertions as you think best to secure a right coming out 
of this matter. 

"So far as public sentiment in this region of the district 
is concerned I know it to be decidedly favorable to the se- 
lection of Mr. Wallace as the next Republican candidate 
for Congress, and I believe it to be so to a considerable ex- 
tent in other parts of the district. I also know that Mr. 
Wallace possesses every quality that is requisite to fill the 
station with honor to himself, his friends and his country. 

"Should these views meet your approbation you are at 
liberty to show this letter to such of your friends as you see 
fit, especially Mr. Henning and Mr. Wheeler. 

"Truly yours, 

"J. C. Champlain." 

Lovejoy was very active and aggressive in his canvass 
for renomination at the Congressional Convention to be 
held at Joliet on June 30th. A letter to Mr. Wallace from 
Mr. A. Wardlaw of Granville. Putnam County, on May 
5th, says : 

"I understand that Lovejoy is busy writing letters home 

[82] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

to his friends urging them to see to his interests. I had the 
reading of one and saw several others. The one I saw 
stated that he understood that there were efforts being 
made in the district to defeat him in the convention by call- 
ing mass meetings and making it inconvenient for his 
friends to attend, and saying they ought to have meetings in 
the different towns and send delegates to attend the con- 
vention at Joliet." 

A letter to Judge Dickey from C. H. Moore of Clinton, 
DeWitt County, on June 5th, speaking in the same strain, 
says : 

"I saw a letter from Lovejoy yesterday complaining of 
the course taken, that the primary meetings were called too 
soon. He wanted them delayed until he could get home 
and see the people. Our delegates to Joliet are Jno. War- 
ren, C. P. Ford, L. Welden and C. H. Moore. I am the 
most of a Lovejoy man amongst them. There is no possible 
contingency that I can conceive of in which the delegation 
from this county will vote for Lovejoy in the convention. 
Our choice is Judge Davis. Our delegation will do its best 
for him. If it is impossible to nominate him, we will do the 
next best thing to defeat Lovejoy. As against any man 
north of the Illinois river, Mr. Wallace, I think, can rely 
upon this county. I suppose there will be but three candi- 
dates, Mr. Wallace, Davis and Lovejoy — Swett, I have 
not heard spoken of." 

From Pontiac, Livingston County, Mr. Wallace received 
a letter in the same strain from Josh Whitmore, a lawyer 
there, on June 5th : 

"We are thrashed out completely. You never saw Abol- 
itionists flock out so in your life. Lovejoy has sent confi- 
dential letters stereotyped to every Abolitionist in the coun- 
ty and probably in the district. I saw one day before yes- 
terday, an appeal to the Sympathisers and Abolitionists; 
every one of them turned out to the rescue. I am not only 
mad, but tired of this Nigger Worshipping. If Lovejoy is 

[83] 



to be the nominee T =,„, . — - 

andVh '^='™ •^^^'^'""/em&r' 'Z' ^^""g'-s Demo 

"Dear Wallace-— Hi ii r^^^^o^iNGTON, June 7 t«-s 

. -^ne Abolition elemenf io Lovejoy. '^ -^ 

have at ro^ief Th ."T'' abolitionized than L ^ ''''^■ 
The Whig part of th"p '^ '^^' *''^ coun^ ^for Z'^" "'" 
<^on. thini Z\tXc^Z"Zl\'r' - P-c^beT°^i 
- e^ri fe^ldSS='-e appointed 



«j£ .. --- ""'^'- juu want 

boltino- r) "t^aten if nominated pnri fi.^ • oeJieve 

Doiting. Remember me to Dickey ^^v '^ ^' "° "^e of 



Your friend. 
D. Davis." 



'-'n June 9th the La SpIU r- . .. 
-"et at Ottawa to erecf^d^Iegri^Me"'"" '=°"™"«- 

t84j convention at 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Joliet; as the Ottawa Republican newspaper of that date 
says : "Mr. Wallace's name was withdrawn. ]\Iany per- 
sonal friends of Mr. Wallace would like to have had the 
privilege of sending him to Congress. In this they were 
not actuated by hostility to Mr. Lovejoy. When they 
found the majority was for returning Mr. Lovejoy for an- 
other term, Mr. \Vallace's claims were pressed no further. 
The friends of Judge Davis have also withdrawn his name 
from the canvass." 

The Ottawa Free Trader, speaking of the Joliet conven- 
tion on the 30th of June, says : "Old Whigs, notvvithstand- 
ing they comprise two-thirds of the party, are not allowed 
a voice in the convention. They are the complete slaves of 
such men as Lovejoy, Went worth, Dyer and Hawley." 
Lovejoy was elected by seven thousand votes over the 
Democratic nominee, George W. Armstrong. 

The elections to the Illinois Legislature were important, 
as the legislators had in their hands the electing of the 
United States Senators. Even in this year politicians were 
looking ahead to a time when Lovejoy might run for United 
States Senate and desired his defeat, as is shown in the fol- 
lowing letter to Mr. Wallace from Mr. A. Wardlow of 
Granville on September 8th : 

"The Abolitionists have backed down and have come to 
the conclusion that it is perhaps best not to monopolize all 
the offices, and have nominated an old Hne Whig for Rep- 
resentative and a man by the name of Geo. C. Bestor of 
Peoria for the State Senate. I do not know what he is, but 
he will have to give some assurance that he will go for some 
other man than Lovejoy, for the Senate in 1860, at the end 
of Trumbull's time, as some of the Abolitionists have said 
that they intend for him to go into the Senate in Trumbull's 
place. Consequently he will have to come out on that or 
there will be bolting. He will not be required to pledge for 
any particular man, only not to go for Lovejoy. * * * * 
The Democrats had a mass meeting in Hennepin last Mon- 
day and had a complete blow up. The Buchanan men left 
or bolted and formed another organization ; consequently 
there are two sets of delegates appointed to all the conven- 

[85] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

tions, one set instructed to go for Douglas, the other in- 
structed to go for no man who will support Douglas against 
the Administration, ***** j think Douglas is losing 
ground here since his Freeport speech, and the Buchanan 
faction are gaining and the wave is bitter and hot. There 
is no chance for a reconciliation or a union on Douglas. 
The only chance for a union of the two wings is to drop 
Douglas and unite on some one else and I have no idea the 
Douglas men will do that." 

Regardless of the bitter dissension in his own party 
Douglas won the election in the Legislature to the United 
States Senate. Owen Love joy remained in Congress until 
1864, when he died — an eloquent and honest man in his 
convictions, however extreme. 



[86] 



CHAPTER X. 

Lincoln's Nomination and the Feeling in the Coun- 
try BEFORE HIS INAUGURATION. 

THE slave question which had been rumbling for so 
many years was in the Presidential contest of 1860, 
the only issue between the parties, State's sovere- 
ignty, or each State's right to manage its own affairs with 
no responsibility to a central union, against the non-exten- 
sion of slavery. Four parties with four candidates were 
in the field, each with varying shades of the central ques- 
tion — Slavery. 

The Republican party, now growing strong in its ad- 
vocacy of the evil of extending the bondage of human be- 
ings, stood on its original platform of Non-Extension of 
Slavery, and put forward Abraham Lincoln of Illinois as 
its leader. The American or Know-Nothing party took no 
decided ground on the slavery question, but was for a Con- 
stitutional Union, nominated John Bell of Tennessee as its 
standard-bearer. 

The Democratic party was divided. The extreme South- 
ern faction headed by Jefferson Davis advocated that the 
Federal Government must protect slave owners whether in 
free or slave States in fact that no restriction of slavery 
was constitutional. This faction nominated John C. 
Breckenridge of Kentucky. The other wing of the party, 
not willing to squarely affirm this doctrine, ignored it and 
nominated Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, the advocate of 
popular sovereignty, for President. The real contest was 
between Lincoln and Douglas, although owing to the dis- 
ruption in the Democratic party, Douglas did not carry a 
single state electoral vote, but his personal popularity gave 
him a large popular vote. 

After Lincoln was actually elected in November, and the 
South knew that a Republican President would be at the 
head of the nation, and his sympathizers in the officers of 
state, even if in Congress, the balance of power was still 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

with the Douglas Democrats, they decided to secede from 
the Union and form a separate Confederation of States 
that would uphold the system of slavery ; which they be- 
lieved to be necessary to the industrial well being of the 
South in its principal industry of raising cotton and sugar 
cane. 

On the 17th of December, South Carolina held a conven- 
tion and decided to secede from the Union. By the first of 
February six other States had followed suit and by the 
eighth of the same month delegates from the seceded States 
met at Montgomery, Alabama, and formed a new govern- 
ment with the name of the Confederate States of America, 
and elected Jefferson Davis as President, and Alexander H. 
Stephens as Vice-President. 

We now turn to Mr. Wallace and his affairs with some 
side lights on these great questions that were agitating the 
entire country. 

Mr. Wallace was not only an ardent Republican, but an 
earnest and devoted friend of Abraham Lincoln, so that it 
was but natural that all his sympathies were for Lincoln 
for President for which he worked hard and earnestly. 
When Lincoln was finally nominated in the memorable 
Chicago Convention of the 16th of May, 1860, strong men 
embraced one another, shouted and wept for joy. Mr. 
Wallace and his friend, Leonard Swett, were together. So 
elated, so rejoiced were these two strong earnest men, they 
threw their arms around one another in the exhuberance of 
their deep feelings. "Come," says Wallace, "let's go and 
buy our wives some new dresses." The two tall men 
searched for the latest in pretty dress goods and each took 
the gift home to his wife. Mrs. Wallace called hers her 
"Lincoln dress," which is still kept by her family as an in- 
teresting relic. 

Mr. Wallace's father-in-law. Judge Dickey, was as ard- 
ent a Democrat and Douglas man as Mr. Wallace was a 
Lincoln man — politics could naturally never be discussed 
between them. When, however. Judge Dickey found Doug- 
las' chances for election out of the question, he returned to 
Ottawa, went directly to Mr. Wallace's house in the middle 
of the night told him to get right up and work for Lincoln. 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

His love of country, and faith in the integrity and ability of 
Lincoln, for whom he had a strong personal friendship, rose 
above party feeling. 

Judge Dickey, with his daughter, Mrs. Wallace, and a 
cousin, Miss G — ,went to Chicago to be present at the re- 
ception of Douglas. Miss G — writes a letter telling of their 
visit and also speaks of Seward's reception in Chicago at 
this time : 

"October 7, 1860. We arrived in Chicago about six in 
the evening, put up at the Tremont, and as soon as we got 
our supper we got a place out on one of the balconies to see 
the reception of Seward. The reception was on Lake 
Screet, the whole house was illuminated with various 
colored lamps, two on Lake and two on Dearborn ; also two 
large stars made of large glass beads and fixed in evergreen 
with gas behind in shape of a star, two on each balcony. 

"The street in front of the hotel was crowded with peo- 
ple. About eight o'clock the procession came up with Gov- 
ernor Seward. A company called Lincoln Rangers, 
mounted on horses, went to the depot to meet him. Then 
such a sight of torches as there were I never expect to see 
again. The crowd was remarkably silent. After Seward 
had eaten his supper he came out onto one of the balconies 
and made a short speech and then others spoke. Long John 
(Wentworth) came out to introduce Seward and made 
quite a lengthy speech. He said here was the man who 
would rather be in the right than be President, as much as 
to say that Lincoln was not in the right. He said something 
about Seward not being an office seeker, which made the 
people laugh a good deal. They don't seem to think much 
of Long John the way they laughed at him. 

"Tuesday morning there did not seem much going on, but 
the Wideawakes marching from one street to another with 
bands of music. About one o'clock a large crowd assembled 
around the Tremont to escort Seward down to the wigwam 
to speak. By the way, I forgot to tell you that I saw Lady 
Franklin Monday night ; she was out on the balcony when 
Seward spoke. She is a fine looking old lady. After Sew- 
ard had left we all went down to the speaking, we could 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

not get near enough to Seward to hear him ; he was speak- 
ing out doors. We went into the wigwam and found out 
that Love joy was to speak, so we stayed and listened awhile 
to him, then went back to the hotel where we met a great 
many of Cousin Ann's friends. We stationed ourselves 
again on the balcony to see the Wideawakes. 

"Wednesday evening we went to the theatre and heard 
the great Irish comedian, Collins, in a play called 'Coleen 
Bawn' — the scenery was fine. 

"Thursday morning we went up to call on Mrs. Douglas. 
She is an exceedingly pleasant lady and very pretty. Mrs. 
Swift and Mrs. King came to call on us and invited us there 
to dinner. We went about four o'clock and on our way 
called on Mrs Judd. We got home from Mrs. Swift's 
about 7 o'clock. About ten Douglas came ; there was an im- 
mense crowd collected to receive him. The hotel was all 
illuminated again and they had fixed up on top of the house, 
"Welcome, Douglas, Welcome home," in transparancies. 
Douglas made a short speech that night. Cousin Lyle 
(Judge Dickey) also made a speech. The Douglas Invin- 
cibles were out with their torches and made a brilliant 
showing. 

"Friday the crowd collected around the Tremont to take 
Douglas to the grounds to speak. There was a long proces- 
sion of Invincibles to escort him. He rode in a carriage 
drawn by four white horses with plumes. And stood up 
with his hat off until the procession had mostly passed, 
making bows to the people. Just as he was about to start 
he threw a kiss to Mrs. Douglas." 

Popular as Douglas was personally, his cause was not 
the cause to win. Lincoln stood for the principle that 
reached the heart of the greater number of the American 
people so he won over his brilliant rival. 

Mr, Wallace was an office seeker to the incoming Presi- 
dent, as the following will testify — and also to the regard 
held for him by his friends. 

"To his Excellency Abraham Lincoln : 
"The undersigned residents of La Salle County most 
respectfully and yet urgently request the appointment of 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Wm. H. L. Wallace as United States District Attorney for 
the Northern District of Illinois, for the reasons following, 
viz: 

"ist. We have the most unlimited confidence in his capa- 
city and integrity to faithfully and promptly discharge the 
duties of said office. 

"2d. That we believe that a majority of the legal voters 
of this district anxiously wish for and respectfully demand 
his appointment and most determinately yet unitedly pro- 
test against the control of the appointing power in this dis- 
trict, by any or all of the Congressional Representatives of 
Northern Illinois. 

"3d. And we hereby again protest against the appoint- 
ment of a District Attorney from the County of Cook, inas- 
much as several most important appointments have already 
been bestowed upon residents of said Cook County. While 
La Salle County being second in point of wealth and popu- 
lation in our state has been entirely overlooked and unre- 
warded by federal appointment." 

Then follow many names of prominent La Salle County 
men. 

Judge Davis writes Mr. Wallace on the same topic. 

"Bloomington, 111., Dec. 27, 1860. 
W. H. L. Wallace, Esq., 

"My Dear Sir: — "I wrote to Judge Trumbull in your 
behalf and that of Mr. Weldon for the Southern District. 
I have just received a line in reply and will give you all of 
his letter referring to the subject. 

"You will perceive that he writes cautiously. He says: 
'Personally it will be a gratification both on their account 
and to conform to your wishes, if I am so circumstanced 
when the time for action arrives as to be able with due re- 
gard to other interests to favor the appointment of Messrs. 
Wallace and Weldon to the places they seek respectively. 
I know them both well and favorably.' 

"You will perceive that he is entirely non-committal. 
The above is all he wrote on the subject. 

"I am not without hope from him. If I can serve you 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

any further in the matter, besides writing to Mr. Lincoln 
and seeing him personally, let me know. 

"Whac did you learn at Springfield? Have you been to 
Chicago and did you find out who were applicants? 

"With the compliments of the incoming year to Judge 
Dickey and Mrs. Wallace, I am your friend, 

David Davis." 

From Lacon came the greetings and good will of the 
friends of Mr. Wallace who also desired his appointment to 
the office. 

"Lacon, 111., Feb. 22, 186L 

"Friend Wallace: — "Learning that your friends were 
presenting your name to the incoming administration for 
United States District Attorney, I thought I would send 
you the endorsement of our leading Republicans. I could 
have got a thousand names; supposed it would be of no use 
to do so. 

"We are very desirous you should get the appointment 
and would do anything in our power to assist you. 

"Not having heard from you we do not know that you 
wish anything of the kind, but we thought we would send 
our mite at any rate. Respectfully, 

"G. L. Fort." 

From Springfield Mr. Wallace writes his wife on 
January 11, 1861, giving a glimpse of the political whirl in 
this State and the cares accumulating around Mr. Lincoln 
even before his inauguration. 

"There is a great crowd of people here, continually com- 
ing and going. I have seen a great many of the most 
prominent men of the State. I have been so much occupied 
that I have not yet gone to Jacksonville and don't know 
that I shall go at all. Political matters are continually 
changing and no man can tell in this turmoil what the mor- 
row will bring forth. The cause of Major Anderson is 
generally sustained by all parties here, but all are fearful of 
the result. 

"I have seen Mr. Lincoln two or three times since I have 
been here, but only for a moment and he is continually sur- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

rounded by a crowd of people. He has a world of responsi- 
bility and seems to feel it and to be oppressed by it. He 
looks careworn and more haggard and stooped than I ever 
saw him. ***** There are some amusements here — 
Mr. Murdock read Hamlet on Tuesday night, a very fine 
treat. On Monday night I went on Eaton's (R. E. Goodell, 
son-in-law of Governor Matteson) invitation and spent the 
evening and played euchre at Governor Matteson's with 
Mrs. Goodell and Mrs. Maginnis." 

The political atmosphere in the beginning of the year 
1861 was very similar to the physical before a thunder 
storm. Many feared the Southern States would secede and 
disrupt the Union. With this fear was the feeling by the 
Federal Government of doing nothing to bring on a crisis, 
hoping matters would adjust themselves and all come out 
right. Even strong men held this feeling. After Lincoln's 
election the South was more open in her threats of hostility 
toward the Central Government and fears were entertained 
of an attack on Washington City. The following letter of 
Mr. Wallace shows something of the feeling of conserva- 
tive and loyal men at this juncture: 

"Ottawa, Jan. 16, 1861. 
"Dr. S. a. Paddock, 
"Princeton, 111. 

"Dear Sir: — Your letter of the 3d inst. in reference to 
the state of the country and suggesting the raising of a regi- 
ment to be offered to the government in case of a rebellious 
attack on Washington City, was received by me while in 
Springfield. The rapid course of events which every day 
seemed to change the aspect of the times, with a press of pri- 
vate matters, has hitherto delayed my answer. 

"There was a time not long since when it seemed to me 
probable that those having charge of the Government would 
succeed in robbing it of treasure and arms, and leave it an 
easy prey to the disunionists, and I felt that under that 
state of things it would become the duty of the States who 
were loyal to the Federal Government to step forward and 
by timely tender of men and means save the Union from the 
hands of traitors. That danger, I am happy in being able 

[93] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

to believe, is now past, and with it the necessity of extra- 
ordinary efforts on the part of the loyal States. The Ad- 
ministration at Washington, inspired by General Scott's 
patriotism, wisdom and valor now seems to be able and 
willing to meet and successfully repel any unlawful attack 
on the Capital. It is true that the treason of South Caro- 
lina seems to be spreading and involving other States — they 
are mustering military force and preparing for war. But 
who are they to fight? The Federal Government may con- 
tent itself with collecting the revenue which can be done 
only by naval force, to which the disunionists have nothing 
to oppose. We ought not to force upon these unwilling 
States the benefits of post offices or courts which are in- 
tended as a local benefit. So for all the practical purposes 
of enforcing the laws ; no military beyond the regular army 
to garrison a few forts and arsenals are needed. With 
these gangs of rampant fire eaters living upon the resources 
of a country already on the eve of starvation, these disloyal 
states will soon find themselves in the position that history 
shows to be the fate of a small state supporting an unem- 
ployed army. The military leaders will soon become the 
most obnoxious and abhorred of tyrants and before many 
months the cry will come up to the Federal Government or 
to the people of the loyal States from all men having mat- 
erial interests in the seceding States to be saved from the 
hands of their armed mobs. 

"Opposition or the show of opposition on the part of the 
Northern States would in my judgment delay this event and 
keep up the spirit which has lured our Southern brethern 
into their present position. For I cannot, Dr., notwith- 
standing the wild, insane and treasonable course they have 
pursued, as yet regard these people in the light of foes. 
They are our political associates, our political brethren, 
common heirs with us of the illustrious sires of the revolu- 
tion. We are stronger than they. They cannot hurt us and 
we ought if possible to prevent them from hurting them- 
selves. If I am right in my judgment of the result, and I 
sincerely hope I am, what a magnificent moral spectacle 
would be presented by the Northern States, loyal to the 
Union as our fathers made it, calm amid the wild storm pur- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

suing the even tenor of their way without being provoked 
into any show of passion by the threats of their own passion 
and folly. I think I can see in this the seeds of a stronger 
and more fraternal union than has ever existed between the 
North and the South. 

"But if in all this I am mistaken, if the war spirit of the 
South should seek to expend itself upon us, if any attack 
should be made upon the seat of the Federal Government 
or upon any of the loyal States, then indeed we should act 
and act promptly and with vigor. But I hope for better 
things. 

"You will readily infer from these views that I am dis- 
inclined in the present posture of affairs to take part in any 
extraordinary military organization, which might appear 
like preparation for hostilities against the Southern States. 
While feeling thus I am not insensible to the flattering 
opinion you are pleased to express of my qualification as a 
regimental officer, and should the contingency arise in which 
the employment of military force was in my judgment re- 
quisite, I know of no persons with whom I would be more 
pleased to act than with yourself and the gentlemen you 
have named in that connection. 

"Yours very respectfully, 
"W. H. L. Wallace." 

Cyrus Dickey, the brother of Mrs. Wallace, was in 
Memphis, Tennessee, practicing law in the closing months 
of 1860, and in a letter from there dated December 20, 1860, 
to his younger brother shows something of the state of pub- 
lic feeling in regard to the prevailing political troubles. 

"The political troubles which threaten our Union as a 
matter of course aff"ect greatly all branches of business and 
the practice of the law is no exception. The state of the 
Union occupies universal attention here and I am sorry to 
say among Union men very little hope of its preservation is 
entertained. 

"If all men. North and South, had in times past taken as 
much pains as our father has, to teach his children to re- 
spect and love the people of the whole country, without 
respect to state lines or state institutions, and had sent them 

[95] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

into other States and sections, that they might see the people 
without prejudice, all the present trouble I firmly believe 
would have been avoided and the Union have been as firmly 
rooted in the hearts of all the people as it was in the days 
of Washington; and a word breathed against it would be 
regarded as incipient treason. We cannot be too thankful 
to our father for these educational advantages. He has 
seen them and appreciated them when we did not. And has 
made all his children national in spite of the sectional prej- 
udice that hung around our homes." 

In a letter of February 7th, 1861, Cyrus writes to his 
father of a Union demonstration in Memphis which is in- 
teresting, as but a few months later this same section se- 
ceded, although there was a large element in the State 
against secession. 

"Last night I marched for three hours under the old flag 
with thirteen stripes and thirty-four stars and an American 
Eagle on it and to the music of the 'Star Spangled Banner', 
'Hail Columbia' and 'Yankee Doodle.' It is the only pro- 
cession I have marched in in Tennessee. 

"The turn out was in response to a call for a torch light 
procession of those opposed to immediate and unconditional 
secession. It was the most successful demonstration of the 
sort I ever saw, and drew forth all sorts of curses from the 
disunionists. The procession was fully two miles long. It 
reached nearly all over the city at one time, and was per- 
fectly wild with enthusiasm. The torches lit up the whole 
city. The Stars and Stripes waved everywhere, and every 
drum and fife and brass instrument that could be raised was 
playing National Airs. 

"A great many stores and residences were illuminated. 
Balconies, windows and doors were everywhere filled with 
ladies waving their handkerchief and huzza-ing for the 
Union. 

"At ten o'clock as much of the procession as could get 
into one place was crowded into 'Court Square.' The 
American Flag was so planted that it floated over the statue 
of General Jackson. 

"At least two thousand voices joined in singing the 'Star 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Spangled Banner' led by a fine brass band. I never wit- 
nessed such unbounded enthusiasm. After this the proces- 
sion (which was by this time a street full of people) 
marched to the Exchange Buildings, and listened to patrio- 
tic Union speeches until long after midnight. 

"This demonstration and other recent events have in- 
spired high hopes that Tennessee will not secede and that 
the Union may yet be restored. A few days more will shed 
more light upon the subject. The election is on the 9th. 

"I think I had better remain here at all events until the 
middle of March. It may yet be disagreeable to stay." 



{97] 



CHAPTER XL 

Lincoln's Inauguration. Firing on Sumter. The 

Country Prepares for War. Mr. Wallace 

Made Colonel. 

IN February, 1861, Mr. Wallace, sharing with many 
others great fear for Mr. Lincoln's personal safety at 
the inauguration, went on to Washington to help in 
his protection if necessary. From there he writes his wife 
telling of his impressions on that memorable occasion : 

"Washington D. C, February 27, 1861, ****** 
We first stopped at Willard's, where Mr. Lincoln and many 
of the Illinois people are, but the sleeping accommodations 
were such that we could not stand it, so this morning we 
found a private boarding house. * * * * This political 
cauldron has been in a dreadful boil since I came. The 
peace conference has just reached a result and will ad- 
journ today. You will see the result in the papers. (*Note) 
It gives great satisfaction to all conservative men of all 
parties. Indeed the crisis seemed so threatening that most 
good men forgot party and only regarded the safety of the 
country. Last night I saw Mr. Bell of Tennessee. Gover- 
nor Hicks of Maryland, Governor Pollock of Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Gilmer of North Carolina and Thurlow Weed of New 
York, all strong Union men, in anxious consulation — men 
or different parties, all content to surrender something of 
their party's dogmas for the sake of retaining the border 
states in the Union. 

"The result of the conference will cause a fierce contest, 
but I really believe from the present lights that it is the best 
thing for the peace of the country. For days men having 

Note: "The peace conference adopted a peace measure, a 
modification of the Guthrie plan. The measure is not known except 
that the matter has to be submitted to State Legislatures. Three- 
fourths must acquiesce before constitution can be amended to suit 
compromisers. They favored a resolution to enforce the laws until 
an amicable settlement can be made." 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

the best opportunities of knowing have asserted with every 
appearance of sincerity that unless something of this kind 
were done Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina 
and Arkansas would certainly secede. Governor Hicks 
of Maryland, who has stood in the political breach like 
Anderson at Sumter, told me this morning that if the 
conference adjourned without advising anything, as the 
prospect then was that it would, he should immediately call 
the Legislature of his State together and the State would at 
once secede. Mr. Bell of Tennessee also told me that some 
such result as this was necessary to enable the Union men 
of that State to sustain themselves and save their State to 
the Union. I trust it may restore peace to the country. 

"I dined on Monday evening with Henry Winter Davis 
of Maryland. Judge Davis, Charles Francis Adams of Mas- 
sachusetts, Mr. Uhlman of New York, and Mr. Lamon of 
Bloomington, Illinois, were of the party." 

Mr. Wallace attended the Inauguration and writes of 
the occasion to his wife. 

"March 5, 1861. Yesterday I looked upon a scene which 
realized my dearest political hopes. I saw an honest and 
able man stand up before his countrymen in the presence of 
the representatives of the civilized world and surrounded by 
the insignia of power, and without mental reservation take 
the solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of 
our country and to take care that its laws be enforced. It 
was an imposing scene. By the kindness of Henry Winter 
Davis of Maryland I was admitted to the floor of the House 
of Representatives and spent the last hour of the session 
there and from there went upon the eastern portico from 
which I could see the assembling crowd, and witness the 
whole ceremony of the inauguration. You will have read 
in the papers the full particulars before this can reach you, 
and I need only say that when the ceremony by Mr. Lincoln 
kissing the Book and the fine band of the Marine Corps 
broke forth in triumphant strains of music mingled with the 
joyous shouts of the vast multitude, it seemed to me that 
our coimtry had passed the darkest hour of her history and 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

the future was brightened with the dawn of a happier day. 
* * * * Conservative men of all parties here are grati- 
fied with the tone and spirit of the President's address, and 
the direct and honest manner in which he met and dealt 
with the exciting questions of the day, marked him at once 
an honest and capable man. 

"He had been so abused and misrepresented that the 
great mass of people here who did not know him were as 
much surprised at his ability as they were pleased by the 
spirit of this his first official act. The fearful feeling of 
foreboding that seemed to pervade the whole atmosphere is 
changed to one of confidence and trust in the future. 

"I have seen Mr. Lincoln but twice since I have been 
here. I called to-day with about five hundred other people 
from Illinois, to pay our respects to Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln 
in their new home. Mr. Lincoln seemed perfectly at home 
— that is, he was as awkward and easy there as he always 
was in Illinois. Mrs. Lincoln seems to support the dignity 
of her new position with becoming grace. * * * j expect 
to see Mr. Lincoln to-morrow and put my application be- 
fore him." 

While in Washington Mr. Wallace received a letter from 
his wife showing she, too, shared in the anxiety held by her 
husband and her country: 

"Ottawa, 111., March 6, 1861. 

"I have been to church this morning and joined my heart 
and voice with, I trust, thousands of others in a prayer for 
the 'President of the United States.' The prayer on my 
part much heartier than usual. Added to my love for our 
country was my love for the individual. ***** We 
are very lonesome at our house. I want you to stay as long 
as it is best and pleasant for you, but know I am longing 
every moment to be near you. The presence and love of 
my husband is the great pleasure of my life. It seems to 
me I would die if I did not hope to see you again." 

In answer her husband writes from Washington on 
March 9th: * * * "What you said about praying for 
the President of the United States really made me soften 
at heart. God, I trust, will hear and answer the fervent and 

[100] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

hearty prayers that are going up to Him all over the country 
from such pure hearts as yours in behalf of the President. 
He needs the sustaining aid of the Almighty in the perilous 
and ardous duties of his station." 

Mr. Wallace continues his letter : 

"Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln held their first levee or reception 
last night. The throng was immense, ladies' crinoline suf- 
fered mercilessly. The crowd was thickly sprinkled with 
the gay uniforms of the Army and Navy and the diplomatic 
corps. Mr. Lincoln wore white kid gloves and worked 
away at shaking hands with the multitude with much the 
same air and movement as if he were mauling rails. 

'T do not know yet whether I will succeed in my appli- 
cation, but I am determined not to be much disappointed if 
I don't. The delegation in congress — ^the senators and rep- 
resentatives — claim to dictate the appointments for the 
whole State and if this claim is sustained I suppose I will be 
counted out. But the indications now are that so far as 
Illinois is concerned Mr. Lincoln will see to the appoint- 
ments himself. 

"It is rumored that he has already appointed Archibald 
Williams Judge of Kansas without consulting the delega- 
tion, and that they (the delegation) are mad about it. It is 
also rumored that he has appointed Mr. Alex. Simpson of 
Hancock County, Marshall of the Northern District of 
Illinois over the unanimous recommendation of the delega- 
tion for another man. As far as regards the attorneyship 
the delegation are divided. Washburn, Farnsworth, Love- 
joy and Kellogg have recommended Joe Knox — Mr. Arnold, 
the new member from Chicago, is very much opposed to 
Knox and desires to have Mr. Larned of Chicago appointed, 
but if he cannot succeed in that he is for me. Mr. Trum- 
bull has not recommended anyone, but tells me he hopes 
things may turn so that I may get it. If I can keep the 
delegation divided I think my chances are the best, and even 
if they should unite on Knox I should still not be without 
hope." 

Mr. E. C. Larned of Chicago won the appointment. 
The optimistic views held by Mr. Wallace that the coun- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

try had passed its darkest hour were not to be realized. On 
April 12tli Fort Sumter was fired on — the fatal shot that 
began the terrible strife of civil war, homes made desolate, 
treasure in blood and money given boundlessly to keep a 
united country. We of a later generation can scarcely real- 
ize the excitement and intense feeling that was aroused by 
this assault on Fort Sumter. We have enjoyed the result 
in peace and prosperity of a united country all our lives that 
was given us by the blood and terrible sufferings of our 
martyred fathers. We scarcely appreciate what was done 
for us and honor enough the brave men who sacrified so 
much that we now can have a country to love and one that 
is honored by all. 

To give some idea of the prevailing feeling aroused by 
the firing upon Fort Sumter, a quotation is here given from 
Rev. T. M. Eddy's Patriotism of Illinois : 

"The Union was assailed ; the right of the constitutional 
majority to rule was denied, and war begun. Perhaps no 
single thought proved more intensely exciting than the dis- 
honor to the flag. It was the representative of Government ; 
it was the symbol of national majesty; it was the emblem 
of authority and protection. It had been honored on all 
seas, had afforded sanctuary in all lands, and now it was in- 
sulted and hauled down before home conspirators ! 'For 
the Flag!' 'Defend the Flag!' 'Rally to the Flag' 'Avenge 
the Stars and Stripes !' were mottoes seen in all places I 
The Flag was displayed everywhere from stores, shops and 
printing offices. 

"It floated from church spires, and draped alike ortho- 
dox and heterodox pulpits. It flaunted from private resid- 
ences and school rooms and miniature ones were placed 
upon the cradles of little ones soon to be left fatherless by the 
fortunes of war. It was mounted on almost every locomo- 
tive. * * * In a day old party lines went down, and for a 
season we were again one people, united in the determined 
purpose of National Salvation. Nineteen millions of people 
were intensely excited ; moving like vast waves surging be- 
fore a great wind. 

"In the churches, pulpits thundered stern denunciation of 

[102] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

rebellion. The ministers declared that God had set this 
land midway between the oceans as a great political and 
religious missionary land. They showed it as the home of 
a united people, and that when He aforetime determined 
the bounds of our habitation He gave us this land to be 
made, in its entirety, the land of free speech, free presses, 
free schools, free pulpits, free men and women. They said 
He so built its mountains as to bind together, not divide, the 
North and the South ; and what God has joined together let 
no man put asunder ! 

"He has traced the great rivers of the continent so there 
can not be dividing lines between the States of the cotton, 
the rice and the sugar and those of the wheat, the corn and 
the barley, with the beds of coal and the spindles of in- 
dustry. They said He hath made it one, and never can it 
be cut in twain. More than one, at the very outset saw the 
contest was between Freedom and Slavery, and putting on 
the prophet's mantle, said: 'Slavery hath taken the sword; 
it shall perish by the sword !' Not in the Crusades was the 
religious spirit more marked, causative and controlling than 
in the Great Uprising of 186L 

"The press was active. Political, secular and religious 
alike made appeal after appeal * * * * Oratory 
played its part, and from rostrum, from out-door stands, 
from court-house steps and hotel balconies, speakers ad- 
dressed masses of people animated with one great purpose. 

"The women, knowing that war meant bereavement of 
husbands, sons, brothers and plighted lovers, said the na- 
tion's honor must be preserved, no matter at what cost ! 

"All eyes were turned toward the National Capitol and 
the eager question went from lip to lip : 'What will the 
President do?' The question was soon answered. Before 
nightfall on Monday, the 15th, was transmitted by tele- 
graph the following proclamation : 

"PROCLAMATION. 
"By the President of the United States. 

"Whereas, The laws of the United States have been for 
some time past and now are opposed, and the execution 

[103] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

thereof obstructed, in the States of South CaroUna, Geor- 
gia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas 
by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordi- 
nary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested 
in the marshals by law ; now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, 
President of the United States, in virtue of the power in 
me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought 
fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the 
several States of the Union to the aggregate number of 
75,000 in order to suppress said combination, and to cause 
the laws to be duly executed. 

"The details for this object will be immediately com- 
municated to the State authorities through the War Depart- 
ment. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and 
aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and ex- 
istence of our National Union and the perpetuity of pop- 
ular government, and to redress wrongs already long 
enough endured. I deem it proper to say that the first 
service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will prob- 
ably be to repossess the forts, places and property which 
have been seized from the Union ; and in every event the 
utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects 
aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, 
or interference with, property, or any disturbance of peace- 
ful citizens of any part of the country ; and I hereby com- 
mand the persons composing the combinations aforesaid, 
to disperse and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, 
within twenty days from this date. 

"Deeming that the present condition of public affairs 
presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue 
of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene 
both houses of Congress. The Senators and Representa- 
tives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respec- 
tive chambers at twelve o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the 
fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and de- 
termine such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety 
and interest may seem to demand. 

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and 
caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. 

"Done at the City of Washington, this fifteenth day of 

[104] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 
and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United States, 
the eighty-fifth. Abraham Lincoln. 

"By the President, 

"William H. Seward, Secretary of State." 

On April 15th a call was made on the Governor of Illi- 
nois by Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, for six regi- 
ments for immediate service. 

Governor Yates called the Legislature to convene by 
April 23d to make preparations to obey this call for troops. 

All over the country there was nothing else talked of but 
this treasonable assault on the government, and the meas- 
ures and means to suppress the outbreak. 

Men offered themselves by hundreds and thousands, no 
lack of men — but there was the equipment to be furnished, 
firearms and clothing, living accommodations, as President 
Lincoln said when begged for the necessary equipment for 
the organized and willing regiments : "The ore is still in 
the mine from which the guns are to be made and the wool 
on the sheep for the clothing." The South had been se- 
cretly preparing for years and was better equipped in every 
way. Firearms had been sent to the South from the Fed- 
eral arsenals. The North, however, though the clouds had 
been so lowering for years, was thunderstruck and utterly 
unprepared for the pressing emergency, and it is sad to say 
it took her many months, aye, almost years, to realize the 
vastness and the enormity before her in suppressing this un- 
holy rebellion. 

Mr. Wallace offered his services immediately with no 
selfish thought of the personal sacrifice engendered in leav- 
ing home, and his lucrative law practice. He had built a 
beautiful suburban home on the bluff overlooking Ottawa 
and had enjoyed but one year of pleasure in the new house 
he and his wife for two years had taken such pleasure in 
planning and building, when the war came and he left it 
never again to return there to live. While he was in 
Springfield making arrangements for the enlistments, his 
wife writes, and how many a woman's heart yearned the 
same way : 

[105] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"Must you really go? I only know now, when it is too 
late, how much hope I have had that you would think it 
best to serve your country at home." 

It can scarcely be realized with what dispatch, after the 
President's proclamation on April 15th, the country was on 
a war footing. But nine days after this Mr. Wallace had 
enlisted, formed a regiment, and with his men was at the 
State capitol. From Springfield he writes to his wife on 
April 24th, 1861 : 

"The feeling here is tremendous and almost unanimous 
in sustaining the Government. Mr. Douglas is expected 
here to-morrow morning and it is thought he will make 
things quite unanimous. The troops here will probably be 
required for active service immediately." 

A unanimous support by the Legislature to the Gover- 
nor's request for war appropriations was imperative ; a bill 
was introduced, but was being dallied with from day to day, 
fearing it could not be carried owing to the southern coun- 
ties of the State being largely Southern sympathizers. 
These sections with southern Indiana were devoted to Mr. 
Douglas and it was thought he could, if he would, bring 
unanimity of action ; so it was important to know where he 
stood and gain his influence for the Northern side. Hon. 
Washington Bushnell, then State Senator, drafted a reso- 
lution which he presented to the Legislature, and which 
was passed, asking Mr. Douglas to address that body, thus 
making it necessary for him to come forward and show his 
position on the vital question agitating the Nation. 

Dr. Eddy says : "Mr .Douglas in the political controver- 
sies of preceding years was in favor of compromise, but 
when the crisis arrived, the parting of the ways between the 
Southern States seceding from the Federal Government, 
Douglas rose to this great emergency and with his magical 
and gifted oratory and personal power urged loyality at all 
hazards to the Central Government. 

"He reached Springfield on the 25th of April and ad- 
dressed the two houses of the State Legislature in a style 
of magical power." 

He said : "For the first time since the adoption of the 

[1.06] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Federal Constitution, a wide-spread conspiracy exists to 
overthrow the best government the sun ever shone upon. 
An invading army is marching upon Washington. The 
boast has gone forth from the Secretary of War of the so- 
called Confederate States, that by the first of May the 
rebel army will be in possession of the National Capitol, 
and, by the first of July, its headquarters will be in old In- 
dependence Hall. 

"The only question for us is, whether we shall wait su- 
pinely for the invaders, or rush, as one man, to the defence 
of that we hold most dear. Piratical flags are afloat on the 
ocean, under pretended letters of marque. Our Great River 
has been closed to the commerce of the Northwest. 
* * * * So long as a hope remained of peace, I plead 
and implored for compromise. Now, that all has failed, 
there is but one course left, and that is to rally, as one man, 
under the flag of Washington, Jefl^erson, Hamilton, Madi- 
son and Franklin. At what time since the Government was 
organized have the Constitutional rights of the South been 
more secure than now? For the first time since the Consti- 
tution was adopted there is no legal restriction against the 
spread of slavery in the territories. When was the Fugi- 
tive Slave Law more faithfully executed? What single 
act has been done to justify this mad attempt to overthrow 
the Republic? We are told that because a certain party 
has carried a Presidential election, therefore the South 
chose to consider their liberties insecure ! I had supposed 
it was a fundamental principle of American institutions 
that the will of the majority, constitutionally expressed, 
should govern! If a defeat at the ballot box is to justify 
rebellion, the future history of the United States may be 
read in the past history of Mexico. 

T* 'T' 'F 'I* 'I' "^ 

"It is a prodigious crime against the freedom of the 
world to blot the United States out of the map of Christen- 
dom. * * * * How long do you think it will be ere 
the guillotine is in operation? Allow me to say to my for- 
mer political enemies, you will not be true to your country 
if you seek to make political capital out of these disasters ; 
and to my old friends, you will be false and unworthy of 

[107] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

your principles if you allow political defeat to convert you 
into traitors to your national land. The shortest way now 
to peace is the most stupendous and unanimous preparations 
for war. Gentlemen, it is our duty to defend our Constitu- 
tion and protect our Flag." 

Douglas made another speech in Chicago — his last, and 
worthy of this great statesman. These two speeches were 
sent by telegraph to all sections of the country and without 
doubt united the West and prevented the horrors of civil 
war east of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio river. 
As Dr. Eddy says: "His voice had such power as had no 
other. His words were as the prophets of old, falling upon 
the public conscience and the public heart !" 

Mr. Wallace writes of the first speech from Springfield, 
April 25th : 

"Judge Douglas and wife arrived here this morning. The 
Judge made a manly, forcible and patriotic speech to-night 
before the Legislature at a unanimous request passed by 
both branches. He took high ground in support of the con- 
stitutional authorities and was loudly and frequently ap- 
plauded by men of all parties. It is thought that his pres- 
ence and influence will create perfect unanimity on all meas- 
ures in support of the Government which may be passed by 
the Legislature, and the moral effect of his course will add 
greatly to the force of any measures that may be adopted, 
by showing an undivided State rallying in support of the 
Federal Government." 

Cyrus Dickey, Mrs. Wallace's eldest brother, joined one 
of the companies made up in La Salle County, which after- 
wards made part of the Eleventh regiment commanded by 
Colonel Wallace. He writes from Springfield to his sister 
something of the situation in which the new soldiers were: 

"Camp Yates, April 24, 186L 
"We have now been twenty-four hours in camp and are 
beginning to get the run of the ropes slightly. Our initia- 
tion was rather a tough one. We rode all night from Joliet 
in a train of fourteen cars crowded with soldiers, about 
four hundred, besides a great crowd of other passengers. 

[108] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

We arrived at Springfield about 8 a. m. yesterday and 
marched without breakfast to the camp, which is at the old 
Fair grounds. 

"The rush of volunteers, and the haste with which the 
arrangements have been made to receive them, has given 
but little chance to make proper provision for our keeping. 

"We lay on the grass for over two hours before we had 
quarters assigned us, and then it was more than an hour 
before we could get our rations and cooking utensils and get 
our first camp meal prepared. 

"Our quarters are the old cattle stalls with a curtain in 
front. The wind has been from the west ever since we 
came in, and the smoke from our camp fires (which are 
in front) fills all the stalls or quarters with smoke. I rolled 
myself up in my blanket and went to sleep on the hay last 
night feeling very tired and with a severe headache, but got 
up at daylight this morning feeling perfectly well and clear- 
headed. 

"It is a pretty rough life, but not more so than I antici- 
pated. Will was here yesterday and is here again to-day. 
The election of field officers takes place this p. m. and I 
think Wallace is probably to be the Colonel of our regi- 
ment — we will know before night. 

"Our company has adopted a cheer for saluting colors, 
which commands the admiration of the whole camp and 
beats the 'Tiger'. It is 'Ottawa' pronounced in three meas- 
ures — 1-2-3- Au-tau-wa. * * * * j ^rite this under 
a tree in a gale of wind, on the top of Widmer's valise." 

The organization of the regiments was slower than was 
anticipated. Mr. Wallace writes his wife from Springfield 
on April 28th : 

"Our regimental organization is not yet completed. Cap- 
tain Pope, the mustering officer, went to Cairo yesterday 
and will not return before Tuesday. I have the most pos- 
itive assurance from the Governor that our regiment shall 
be the next formed here. There have been three formed, 
the Seventh, Colonel Cook ; the Eighth, Colonel Oglesby, and 
the Ninth, Colonel Paine. * * * * 

[109] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

As it was probable he could not leave to go home Mr. 
Wallace wrote his wife to be in readiness to come to him, 
but he says : 

"You ought to have an escort now, as the cars are full 
of soldiers ; perhaps your father will let Charlie come with 
you or perhaps John could come, but don't come alone." 

The Illinois regiments, out of respect for those of the 
Mexican war, began numbering from where they left off 
in the Mexican war ; thus, the Illinois regiments in the Civil 
war began with seven. 

The Eleventh regiment was mustered into service on 
April 30th with Mr. Wallace as the Colonel, and was or- 
dered to Villa Ridge on May 5th. Mrs. Wallace joined her 
husband and remained with him until the regiment left 
Springfield. At Villa Ridge Colonel Wallace named his 
camp Hardin, in honor of his idolized and gallant Colonel 
in the Mexican war, John J. Hardin. From the new camp 
Colonel Wallace writes his wife: 

"Head Quarters, Camp Hardin, 
"Villa Ridge, May 12th, 1861. 

"One week ago to-day this afternoon I left you at the 
St. Nicholas Hotel in Springfield and rode out to Camp 
Yates and took command of my regiment and marched 
them through the city to the Great Western depot. Amid 
the hurry and bustle of departure and the sense of responsi- 
bility in starting off with nine hundred men, illy disciplined 
and poorly provided, I still thought of you and the lonely 
feeling you would have when you found yourself alone, 
and I prayed inwardly that you might be comforted and 
sustained. 

"When my men were all embarked in the cars, I inquired 
of the officers having charge of shipping supplies if the nec- 
essary means of subsistence and defence were on board, 
and was told that they were. I had previously given the 
necessary orders for provisions for ten days and ammuni- 
tion for our command. We were much crowded, and after 
the fatigue and excitement of the day I felt very weary 

[110] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

and the men near me in the cars were restless. I endeav- 
ored to quiet them and soon succeeded. 

"The command was divided into two trains, the provi- 
sions and baggage being in the advance with Lieutenant- 
Colonel Filler, while four companies with myself and staff 
were in the rear train. 

"We reached Decatur at 9 o'clock, there were switched 
onto the L C. R. R. and went south. At 6 o'clock next 
morning we reached Carbondale, where I learned that no 
preparations whatever had been made for our reception. 
It was then raining heavily and it appeared that we were 
to be turned out here in the woods without tents or shelter. 
I stopped at all the stations between here and Carbondale 
and made inquiry about lumber and carpenters and gathered 
up all the carpenters we could find and reached here at 1 
o'clock A. M. with some twenty carpenters. I got a cup of 
coffee and some half-baked biscuits at a house near the sta- 
tion — the first I had eaten since I took dinner with you on 
Sunday at the St. Nicholas — and immediately set out to 
select a place for encampment. 

'T found one on the hill just east of the railroad station, 
a beautiful spot, combining the advantages of good water, 
shade and drill grounds, though it was somewhat cramped 
for a regiment. I laid off the encampment and set men to 
work, found some lumber here and ordered more from 
above, and before an hour the place was noisy with the 
sound of saws and hammers. I ordered a part of the cars 
we came in to remain on the side track, and took posses- 
sion of a cooper-shop and one or two other small buildings, 
so as to afford shelter for the men. In the afternoon the 
weather cleared oft', the sun came out fine and some of the 
companies moved onto the ground and bivouacked in the 
woods. I also established a telegraph office here and put 
Ed Schermerhorn into it, having obtained authority to do 
so before leaving Springfield. 

"Monday night was clear and beautiful and the men got 
along very comfortably ; but Tuesday morning I discovered 
to my dismay that we were without meat for the men — 
there being only one day's rations of meat sent along, not- 
withstanding my orders and the assurances I had received. 

[Ill] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

This circumstance with its surroundings caused me more 
anxiety than the presence of an enemy would have done. 
I took active measures to supply the want by ordering 
temporary supplies from Cairo, but the rations were ir- 
regular for several days. * * * * xhe work of build- 
ing sheds or barracks has gone on rapidly and we are all 
now under shelter and as comfortable as men can be in 
camp in rainy weather. 

"We must postpone the delights of peace till peace is 
again restored. Then when our government is again estab- 
lished, and the supremacy of our flag again acknowledged 
throughout the land we will sit down in our quiet home and 
enjoy the blessings guaranteed to us by Providence and the 
best government in the world. 

"I went to Cairo yesterday, being the first time I have 
left camp since I came here. I saw General Prentiss, Col- 
onels Oglesby, Paine and Morgan and all the officers of 
their commands. I dined with Colonel Oglesby and his 
staff and in the afternoon attended a meeting of the com- 
missioned officers of the three regiments. They had just 
received notice of the difficulties at St. Louis. They do not 
anticipate any attack on Cairo, but are expecting orders to 
advance, particularly if Missouri should secede. A squad- 
ron of dragoons will be down to-night and a portion of 
them will be assigned to me. We need them very much for 
scouts and outposts. 

"We are a great deal more comfortable here, although 
we landed here six days ago without anything, than they 
are in Cairo, and I feel that I have my regiment in shape, 
better disciplined, better drilled than those in Cairo that 
have been longer in the service and I feel proud of it. I 
begin to feel assured of my position and if any distinction is 
to be won in this war I will have my fair share of it. I 
know there are people who are jealous minded and disap- 
pointed who will harp and distract, but I feel with my regi- 
ment I am beyond and above all such influence. Discipline 
comes hard on volunteers, and I am obliged to be severe 
sometimes, and expect some dissatisfaction, but I believe 
I have the confidence of the officers and men of my com- 
mand, and if we should have an engagement, they will find 

[112] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

this discipline the very making of their reputation as a reg- 
iment. I think I have succeeded in inspiring a proper 
'Esprit de corps' as the French say, and all seem animated 
with a desire to make this the crack regiment of the serv- 
ice^ * * * * \Ye have established regular camp dis- 
cipline and are drilling constantly. The men are generally 
attentive to their duties and seem anxious to be instructed. 
I have a fine regiment. I think they have confidence in me 
and I am proud of them." 

Mrs. Wallace spent a few days in camp with her hus- 
band, and on her return home wrote from Ottawa, on May 
28th: "My visit to your camp did me so much good to 
see you and your men entering into their work with such 
ready self-sacrifice and zeal, has inspired me. I think I can 
do my little part of the work with a cheerful, hopeful spirit, 
ready, if the worst that I fear should come to me, to accept 
it bravely and resignedly as God's will. My many blessings 
and light sorrows all came from the same tender Father's 
hand." 

Three of Colonel Wallace's brothers followed him into 
the war. M. R. M. Wallace entered as Major in Colonel 
Dickey's Fourth Cavalry, organized in La Salle County in 
August. 1861, becoming later Colonel of the regiment and a 
brevet Brigadier-General. He practiced law in Chicago 
after the war, and was for many years Judge of the Cook 
County Court, filling this office with distinction and ability. 

John Wallace went into the Fourth Cavalry, first as Sec- 
ond Lieutenant of Company E, and rising to Captain of 
Company K. He remained in the regiment until it was 
mustered out in Houston, Texas, May 29, 1866, the last Il- 
linois regiment in the service. He died soon afterwards in 
Houston of yellow fever. 

Matthew Wallace, a bright, joyous, promising young 
man of twenty-two, also entered the Fourth Cavalry. He 
was accidentally drowned but a few months after enlisting, 
when his regiment was on a transport on the Ohio river 
bound for service in Kentucky. 

A fourth brother, Hitt Wallace, although not enlisting as 
a soldier, was at the seat of war as clerk in the Commissary 

[113] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Department under G. L. Fort until he contracted the small- 
pox and was compelled by ill health to return north. Mrs. 
Wallace's father, Judge Dickey, went into the war as Col- 
onel of the Fourth Cavalry ; her eldest brother, Cyrus, went 
into the Eleventh Infantry regiment, and her youngest 
brother, Charlie, enlisted in his father's cavalry regiment. 
Besides these near relatives, Mrs. Wallace had cousins in 
both the Northern and Southern armies. Her Confederate 
cousins were taken prisoners and sent to Camp Douglas in 
Chicago, where she was able to visit them and give them 
comforts in their Northern prison. 



[114] 



CHAPTER XII. 

Colonel Wallace's Regiment Enlists for the War. 
His Command Moves to Bird's Point, Missouri. 

A LITTLE glance at the general plans of the North 
and the South will be necessary to understand the 
movements of Colonel Wallace and his regiment as 
spoken of in his letters. 

The great aim of the contending armies was to protect 
their respective capitols, Washington and Richmond, from 
capture, each city building ample fortifications around it- 
self. Each held its own in the four years' struggle, but 
neither gained the capitol of the other, although the con- 
tinual struggle in the Peninsular was to that end. But 
Lee was too great a General and moving on his own 
ground. The Northern Generals who commanded, from 
McClellan on would, perhaps, ably plan a campaign to have 
it countermanded by the authorities at Washington ; hence, 
in the East very little was gained ; but in the West it was 
different, as were also the strategic measures different. 
"The Confederates desired to make the border slave States, 
such as Maryland, Northern and Western Virginia, Ken- 
tucky, Northern Arkansas and Missouri, the battle ground 
of the war, hence can be seen the reasons for the invasion 
of Kentucky, togefther with the movements of General 
Price and his associates in Arkansas and Missouri. This 
was to secure the command of the Cumberland, Tennessee 
and Mississippi rivers by means of the fortifications of 
Henry, Donelson, Columbus, and Island No. 10. It was 
considered important in the beginning of the war by both 
parties to get possession of the great rivers, because troops 
could be transported much easier by water than by land. 
The Confederates saw if they could establish themselves at 
Cairo in Illinois on the point between the Ohio and Missis- 
sippi, they could keep the Unionists from coming down the 
Ohio and going up the Mississippi, which, below that point, 
ran wholly through slave States. But the Federalists were 

[115] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

also alive to the importance of the place and were ahead of 
them, establishing a camp there in May, 1861, of several 
thousand men, throwing up earthworks mounted with heavy 
cannon commanding both rivers. 

"The Confederates, thus foiled, made plans for the cap- 
ture of Cairo. So in September, 1861, General Polk seized 
Hickman and Columbus on the Kentucky side of the river, 
but twenty miles distant from Cairo. Kentucky had re- 
mained neutral. 

"The Confederates built two strong forts in Tennessee 
just below the border of Kentucky on the Cumberland and 
Tennessee rivers, eighty and ninety miles above their 
mouths, Henry and Donelson, to prevent the Federals from 
securing these rivers, and with them Kentucky and Tennes- 
see, so their capture was of great importance to the North- 
ern side." 

In the latter part of May Colonel Wallace made a hur- 
ried trip to Washington City. On his return he wrote his 
wife of passing through all the lines beyond the river, and 
how war-like it looked, and also of his errand there : 

"Camp Hardin, June 2d, 1861. 

"I had a very hurried and exciting trip to Washington. 
I went to Alexandria and Arlington Heights, saw many 
Illinois friends, all of whom congratulated me. I can now 
tell you the object of my visit. General Prentiss had ten- 
dered his brigade of three months' men for the war, and 
sent me on to urge its acceptance, in which I was success- 
ful. If not more than one-fifth of the men in the regiments 
decline to go for the war the regiments will be mustered 
into service for the war. I think my regiment will be al- 
most unanimous. 

"I know, dear Ann, what your first feeling will be, but a 
little reflection will satisfy you that the step I have taken 
is not only right, but one that I could not avoid. The coun- 
try demands the service of her citizens in the field. Our 
regiments are the best drilled and the nearest ready for ef- 
ficient service of any in the State. Being thus situated and 
having the opportunity of going into the service for the 

[116] 




•e^C^i*.. 



AUTOGRAPH CARDS ( )F WARD H. LAMON AND A. LINCOLN. 

INTRODUCINO COLONEL WALLACE WHILE IN 

WASHINCTON ON .MILITARY AFFAIRS, 

MAY. 1861 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

war, we would justly and doubtless receive censure of all 
loyal people should we decline. 

"The impulses of patriotism and the desire for distinc- 
tion in the war — the two great incentives to a soldier's call- 
ing — lead us to accept the place opened for us — the other 
considerations I have mentioned impel us to do so. The 
personal sacrifice of the endearments of home is already 
partially made, and I hope by this course to aid in render- 
ing those endearments enduring. All business of a civil 
nature is stagnant and the whole life and energy of the Na- 
tion is poured into this war. My position is such that I 
cannot if I would, decline to enter the path opened before 
me. My duty as a citizen and a patriot — my true duty to 
you, dear, requires that I should not leave the service of 
the country at this time. I trust that the stupendous prepar- 
ations now making will bring an early end to this miserable 
treason and ere many months the slumbering loyalty of 
the seceded States will, under the influence of the present 
blaze of patriotism, reassert itself, and replant the flag of 
the Union and re-establish the Constitution everywhere 
throughout the Republic. Then, when we have again a 
country to be proud of, when we can feel that we are safe 
under the protection of the old Constitution, when we can 
He down satisfied that the Government has the power and 
will to protect us in our persons, our homes, and our all, 
we may turn from the pursuits of arms and enjoy the de- 
lights of peace. * * * * j send by Mrs. T. C. Gibson 
a specimen of a pattern for a havelock, a linen cap cover 
and cape for soldiers' caps, named in honor of the British 
General in India. These (the pattern and specimen) I pro- 
cured from Mrs. Willard of Willard's Hotel in Washing- 
ton. I wish you would, by subscription or otherwise, pro- 
cure linen and make up as many as you and the ladies of 
Ottawa conveniently can for my command, and say to the 
ladies that their kindness already shown assures us that we 
may confidently draw on them for any such things which 
will contribute to the comfort of the soldiers. The soldiers 
I saw at Washington were nearly all supplied with them, 
and they were a great protection from the heat and dust. 
* * * * Yesterday I received a most delightful sur- 

[117] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

prise. Captain W. L. Gibson received a trunk and on open- 
ing it he found a package for me. It was little Blossom's 
dear face, bless her dear eyes and sweet mouth, how I 
would love to see her and her dear mamma this afternoon. 
I hung the picture up in headquarters, and it there now 
represents the daughter of the regiment." 

In answer to Colonel Wallace's letter about his trip to 
Washington and going into the service for the war, Mrs. 
Wallace writes : 

"The Oaks, Ottawa, June 4, 1861. 

"* * * * jn your letter you tell me you are in the 
service for the war and give me some of the reasons why 
it is so. Dear one ! my knowledge of you and of our cause 
told me this would surely be the result. It does not surprise 
j^g * * * * Xhe separation is very hard. God has 
given me courage and I trust will give it me for the fu- 
ture to let you go cheerfully. Living from day to day on 
the dear words of cheer you send me in your letters and 
hoping all may yet be well with our country and you, Will 
Wallace, I will try to be a true soldier's wife and bear my 
part in this work bravely." 

In answer to Colonel Wallace's request for havelocks, 
the ladies of Ottawa immediately set to work with sewing 
bees and havelock socials to raise money and soon all of 
the soldiers of Colonel Wallace's command were supplied 
with them. In the following letter Mrs. Wallace tells of 
the work in connection with making these havelocks or linen 
cap covers that were needed to protect the necks of the men 
from the sun. 

"The Oaks, June 29, 1861. 

"Oh! my husband, I am so glad to write to you again. 
I know you will have wondered at my silence for the last 
four days. I have been acting Colonel as far as being busy 
is concerned. I have been getting those havelocks made. I 
supposed you wanted about five hundred. We, that is the 
Ottawa ladies, had already made for three companies. Ot- 
tawa has sent five companies into the service and contribu- 
ted largely to equip them. 

[118] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"On Monday morning I set out early to begin the work. 
I knew it would take a good deal of energy on my part and 
perhaps I should fail. I knew almost everybody that felt 
inclined to help furnish the means had already given more 
than they were able. But I thought of your men drilling in 
that hot sun and that probably the effort on my part would 
add so much to their comfort and health. So I began it. 

"I first looked about for the material and found it at 
Mr. Halbert's. He was willing to let me have it at cost 
and wait until the ladies collected the money for his pay. 
It would probably amount to seventy or eighty dollars. 

"Then I got the opinion of a number of gentlemen as 
to the chance of our being able to raise the money in the 
course of the summer. Many said they thought we could 
but did not like to say to me 'go on.' Others (Mr. Cook, 
Mr. Nash, Mr. Mills and others) said they did not want 
to discourage me but all that would give had done all they 
would already, that the men's own neighborhoods ought to 
supply them. We had supplied our own, that was enough. 
I said the men were there without the havelocks. I said 
you would not have made the request if you had seen any 
chance of their being supplied from any other source. That 
the Ottawa people had done a great deal and they would 
never be ashamed of it. I said those companies were prob- 
ably from scattered neighborhoods where their home folks 
did not get together as we could in our towns. At any 
rate, the men were there in the sun ; they had given their 
time and risked their lives for the service and we ought to 
make the sacrifice of a little more effort to ensure their 
health. Besides, the safety of our own men depended in a 
great measure upon the efficiency of those they were associ- 
ated with. Mr. Thorne, Mr. Warner, Mr. Edward Eames, 
Judge Champlain and Pa encouraged me and said I had 
better risk it, and that with my own inclination settled it, 
and I got the material Monday noon. I telegraphed to you 
telling you that the work was begun, and asked how many 
you needed. I thought perhaps, since I had heard in the 
meantime, you might have got some of the companies sup- 
plied from their homes. If so, we would not need so much 
material. • 

[119] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"I got some of the cloth and got some of the ladies to- 
gether cutting it out, thinking I would receive an answer 
by night or early next morning. I stopped the cutting at 
four hundred until I should get an answer, which did not 
come until Monday evening. We found we had cut more 
than you needed. We have enough to furnish Captain 
Reed's German company at Alton, which we have sent to 
them, and will have some over for the Irish company. We 
will send yours on Monday by Mr. Gregg. 

"There were lots of willing hearts and hands for the 
work. They went at it with a cheerful enthusiasm that 
was very pleasant. Twelve ladies in different parts of town 
gathered in their neighbors around a sewing machine and 
the work was done. 

"All well at home. I will write more of ourselves next 
time. Ann Wallace." 

A few extracts are given from Mrs. Wallace's letters, 
showing what the women were enduring at home with sol- 
dier husbands far away. She writes on June 21st when her 
husband had moved to Bird's Point, opposite Cairo, on the 
Missouri side of the river, and was in more danger: 

"I cannot keep the thought of your great danger out' of 
my mind. Busy as I have to be, I am thinking of it every 
moment. A prayer for you is in my heart all the time. 
Oh! Will, Will, this waiting and watching and fearing is 
dreadful. Forgive me, darling, this was on paper almost 
before I knew it. You have enough anxiety of your own 
without mine being added to it. * * * * You are all 
the world to me, dearest. How can I do without you. God 
has given me a cheerful spirit. Do not think of me as de- 
sponding. I do try to be a brave woman most of the time, 
but I cannot help but be your longing, loving wife, even if 
you are a soldier. 

"The young folks and I have just returned from attend- 
ing a floral concert by children. During the evening the 
Star Spangled Banner was sung and then repeated by the 
desire of the audience. All the hope and prayer and exulta- 
tion of that almost worshiped song is in my mind blended 

[120] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

with you. 'Thus be it ever,' etc. are no mere words, but a 
heartfelt prayer from many earnest lips to-night. How 
our hearts swell and sink at the news of the triumphs and 
defeats of the troops of the last few days. There are so 
many heavy hearts to-day over the sad news from Manas- 
sas. If this terrible news is true, (the uncertainty of the 
telegraph makes me hope even yet) how it will lengthen the 
war. Oh ! Will ! can we bear it ? We can and will by God's 
help." She again writes : 

"You say I must not draw such tempting pictures of 
home. I did not intend to trouble you in that way. What 
else shall I write about? Home is not a very pleasant 
place when you are not in it. I will try not to write any- 
thing that will make it hard for you to be a good soldier, 
n it is not worth a thought, what would be the use of 
fighting for it. You can be all the better soldier for being a 
little homesick. I am just selfish enough to want you to 
think of home and the wife very, very often, and if you 
cannot come to them, I would feel badly if I did not think 
you would regret it ; but darling, do not think that I would 
have you jeopardize the cause you are enlisted in for any 
present pleasure to yourself or me. Your letters before 
this made me hope I would see you at home for a little 
while soon, but in the last you do not seem to have thought 
of such a thing. That, with the telegraph dispatches speak- 
ing of the rebels landing below you, has spoiled my bright 
anticipations in a measure. I have no heart to write you 
because I do wish to see you and talk to you. * * ♦ * 
Although my desire to see you is intense, still if it is best 
for you not to come, I can bear it, as well as you can. Do 
not let the fear of my disappointment add anything to your 
burden. What a happy woman I would be if I could lighten 
your load of care even a little for you. 

"You say you pray for me to be blessed as I deserve. 
Do not pray so. My blessings would be few if that was 
their measure. God is very good to me. We will praise 
Him together. He has given me the devoted love of the 
noblest and best man I ever knew, and given me a heart 
to prize it." 

[121] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

The husband writes : "How richly you deserve a coun- 
try and a husband ! God grant that both may be restored 
to you soon! * * * * Around you, dear wife, cluster 
all the dearest rewards and hopes that fancy pictures as the 
compensation for success in our stern endeavor. May God 
in His great mercy keep us both till our country's cause 
permits us to come together again amid the pleasures of 
an honorable peace. * * * * Know always that you 
are the priestess presiding at the altar of home, that altar 
to which next to my Maker I turn with the most reverence, 
devotion and love." 

On June 19th Colonel Wallace's command was ordered 
to Bird's Point, Missouri, opposite Cairo, then the most ad- 
vanced part of the army in that part of the country. Here 
Colonel Wallace was put in command of the post, having 
besides his own regiment another regiment, seven guns, 140 
artillerymen, and a detachment of cavalry. His duties were 
naturally very arduous and exacting, as he writes: 

"Bird's Point, Mo., July 11th, 1861. 
«* * * * 'Pl^g business of re-organizing the regi- 
ment for the three years' service, (one of the most compli- 
cated and perplexing things ever attempted), the attention 
necessarily required by persons coming in from the country 
claiming protection as Union men, the general supervision 
of the command, the constant increasing series of new and 
difficult questions to meet and decide, the attention neces- 
sary to be shown to visitors from the North, of whom there 
appears to be a legion, the alarms at night by firing of the 
guards, making it necessary as a matter of precaution to 
turn out the command under arms and dispose of them so 
as to meet any attack which might be made — these, added 
to the ordinary duties of the regiment, have kept me more 
than usually busy." 

To show something of the duties of a Post Commander 
and his Adjutant or Secretary, a letter is here given from 
Cyrus Dickey, who was adjutant to General Ransom, then 
Commandant of the Post, to his sister, Mrs. Wallace, from 

[122] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Natchez, Mississippi, on August 7, 1863, 10 p. m. * * * 
"I have attempted occasionally to answer your letter, but 
have given it up in despair on account of the annoying in- 
terruptions. It is utterly impossible to attend to the duties 
of a post and write a consecutive letter at the same time. 
In civil life I don't believe any man ever attempted the 
variety of duties which devolve through his Adjutant on a 
Post Commander. 

"For instance, I was waked up this morning at daylight 
by an application of a Dutchman who had got tired of the 
Southern Confederacy and wanted to get transportation 
for himself and family to the quiet North. I advised him 
to wait until business hours and fell asleep again. Scarcely 
asleep when a request came from the Post Quartermaster 
for a steamboat and guard and a detail of negroes for a 
foraging expedition down the river on the Louisiana shores. 
I got up and wrote the necessary orders without dressing, 
and by this time I was wide awake, went upstairs and took 
a bath, came down and found two negroes who had come 
to complain that, 'Ellett's Horse Marines,' who had landed 
in the night, had come up into town and forcibly taken 
from each of them a cart load of vegetables and chickens 
just brought in to sell to the soldiers. I turned the negroes 
over to the public guard ; and sat down to write an order 
to send out fifteen miles into the country to Colonel Coates 
in command of a force guarding and hauling C. S. A. cot- 
ton. Was interrupted in the midst of it by a modest lictle 
boy who wanted an order to purchase some ice from the 
government for a sick mother — which I couldn't give him. 

"General Lee came down to inquire what were the po- 
litical sentiments of Mr. Lurget, whose house he had taken 
a fancy to occupy for his headquarters, providing the resi- 
dent was a rebel. Breakfast was announced and General 
Lee sat down with us, amusing us meantime with an ac- 
count of his interview with the Mr. Lurget before men- 
tioned, while looking over his premises with a view of es- 
tablishing his headquarters there. 'General Lee, what State 
are you from?' 'Kansas, sir.' 'Aye, what was your regi- 
ment?' 'Jennison's Jayhawkers, sir.' 'Have you any of 
these Kansas men with you here?' 'Yes, about one hun- 

[123] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

dred, and would like stable room for them ; how are you off 
for stables?' 'What! You don't mean to bring these men 
into my landscape garden, do you?' 'If I establish my 
quarters here I will camp them near me.' 'Have you any 
control over these men?' 'Very little.' Lee left him in 
great apprehension. 

"After breakfast the office was full of men, boys and 
some negroes, all wanting some relief or information. A 
speculator wanted to know whether he would be permitted 
to go into the country and purchase cotton ; a New Orleans 
man, if he would be permitted to bring up and sell family 
supplies to the citizens ; a government contractor attached 
to the revenue department, whether the military would help 
him to secure abandoned cotton ; an indignant citizen want- 
ed some compulsory process to make the negroes haul wood 
to market ; another complained that the soldiers monopo- 
lized the vegetable market and that citizens were compelled 
to live on corn-bread in consequence ; a negro wanted to 
get back his wagon which had been pressed to haul C. S. A. 
cotton to town ; an old woman, whose husband was in the 
penitentiary for manslaughter, wanted to have us get back 
from her lawyers her house which they had taken for a 
fee four years ago. 

"A respectable delegation of planters had called to see 
if some arrangements could not be effected to get the ne- 
groes to go back to the plantations and save the crops. A 
dashing widow drove in with a splendid carriage drawn by 
a pair of scrawny mules to pray that her carriage horses, 
which had been seized by mounted infantry, could be 
returned to her; an elderly lady, with a brace of blooming 
daughters, wished permission to purchase from the com- 
missary half a pound of tea and a little flour as luxuries for 
a sick father. Two negroes came in out of breath to report 
that the guerrillas over on the Louisiana side were burning 
cotton and shooting all the negroes who refused to go to 
Texas. Mrs. Nichols came in with a basket of luscious 
pears, peaches, figs and grapes and a request that her own 
riding horse may be returned which was taken to mount in- 
fantry on. 

"Mr. Lurget sends his compliments with a huge demi- 

[124] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

John of old sherry, which has been in his garret for twenty- 
six years, and follows it up with a request that General Lee 
may be persuaded not to select his house as quarters. Cap- 
tain Smith reports that he has four thousand and five hun- 
dred negroes in his camp of contrabands without a doctor, 
and some are sick; that the Horse Marines insult his negro 
camp guards and overrun his camp ; an indignant old negro 
preacher came in to complain that the Major had refused 
to open the Methodist church for him to hold prayer meet- 
ings in; a sour old maid comes to inquire if we will not 
send letters North for her without inspecting them. The 
General tells me that I must at once shut myself up in the 
back room and prepare an order to regulate the 'Jayhawk- 
ers' and 'Horse Marines,' also some dispatches for Depart- 
ment headquarters for a boat that is waiting. This is the 
general style of business this firm is transacting and has 
been and expects to be for some time. What writing I do 
which requires any logical connection or arrangement must 
be done after night or locked up in a back room with some 
one trying to open the door every two minutes. I break 
away about once a day and ride away out into the country 
and call on some planters, I know them all, whom I have 
met in the office before. 

"We, Ransom and I, still hope to get to go to Illinois 
about the first of September. Ransom is not well to-day, 
had a chill of ague, not serious, but improves his chance for 
leave of absence." 

Captain Dickey, while in this position, was able to do 
many kindnesses to the unprotected ladies whose husbands, 
brothers and fathers were off fighting in the Confederate 
army. Among these was a family named Winston. Later 
in the war, when Captain Dickey was shot in the battle of 
Sabine Cross Roads, near Shreveport, Louisiana, a Major 
Winston, a son and brother of the ladies in Natchez, found 
him on the field mortally wounded ; finding from some pa- 
pers on him that he was the same Captain Dickey who had 
been so kind to his mother and sisters, had him taken to the 
hospital and cared for until he died, five days after the 
battle, and then had him buried. 

[125] 



CHAPTER XIII. 

General Fremont Takes Command of Western De- 
partment. Large Rebel Force Near Bird's Point. 

THE South started the contest, having the advantage 
over the North in being better prepared in the be- 
ginning. They had secretly collected arms and am- 
munition at various strong points ; then many of the of- 
ficers in the United States Army were Southern men who 
left its ranks to join the cause of the Southern Confeder- 
acy, their State love and loyalty being stronger than that 
for the Union. Thus the South had generals of experience 
from the beginning, commanders that began the war were 
the same that continued and finished it, which was quite 
the opposite in the Northern army. There was no general 
that was prominent in the commencement of hostilities that 
was so at the close of the four years' struggle. This con- 
stant change of commanding officers was a great detriment 
to the Union cause and may have had much influence in de- 
termining the lack of success in both the Eastern and West- 
ern Departments in the early part of the war. The North- 
ern authorities seemed dazed, not comprehending in the be- 
ginning the great seriousness of the situation and did not 
plan and execute with ability, foresight and strength. 

"In July, 1861, as Dr. Eddy writes, "Major-General Fre- 
mont was given the command of the Western Department 
then first organized, which included the State of Illinois and 
the States and Territories west of the Mississippi and East 
of the Rocky Mountains, including New Mexico. This de- 
partment was an empire in itself, with an enemy threaten- 
ing in many directions. Missouri, on the verge of seceding, 
with a Governor openly for the Southern cause, declaring 
the State out of the Union, although the people of the State 
declared to the contrary. War raged within its borders. 

"In Western Missouri the gallant Lyon, with scarcely 
three thousand five hundred men, was confronting McCul- 
loch, Price and Jackson with twenty to thirty thousand. In 

[126] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

southeastern Missouri it was equally gloomy. Cairo, Bird's 
Point, Ironton and Cape Gerardeau were held by Union 
forces with scarcely seven thousand men, and at New Ma- 
drid General Pillow held a Southern force of from fifteen 
to twenty thousand with a supply of excellent artillery and 
cavalry and was moving on Bird's Point. Hardee was 
moving on Ironton with three thousand infantry and two 
thousand cavalry. Another large force under Jeff Thomp- 
son was at Bloomfield. 

"The odds against Fremont were tremendous. He was 
expected to raise, organize and discipline his forces and 
also to divide the Southern Confederacy by descending the 
Mississippi river from the Lakes to the Gulf. His plans 
were well laid and later followed, but after he had been 
superseded." 

Had he been given a better chance with time to work out 
his plans many lives, labor and treasure might not have 
been needlessly sacrificed at the altar of inexperience re- 
sulting from the frequent changes of commanding officers. 

There were rumors of a large rebel force in the neigh- 
borhood of Bird's Point, which the capture of the two fol- 
lowing letters from the rebel Generals, Pillow and Hardee, 
confirmed. 

"Headquarters of Army of Liberation, 
"New Madrid, July 31, 1861. 
"Brigadier-General Jeff Thompson : 

"I have pleasure in acknowledging the reception of your 
communication of the 31st inst. I am gratified with the 
spirit and determination expressed in it. Since my dis- 
patch to you I have ascertained that the enemy's forces are 
concentrating at Cape Gerardeau. It will be absolutely nec- 
essary that we unite our forces at some point, and if you 
can cross the swamp to Sikeston I would advance a por- 
tion of my force to that place and make a depot of supplies 
at it until I have collected sufficient transportation to move 
the whole column. 

"We must have a depot of supplies and we must unite 
our forces. We shall have a fight at the Cape. This being 
settled as a necessity, and as our settled policy, you can 

[127] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

shape your movements accordingly and take such route as 
your knowledge of the country may enable you to deter- 
mine as best. It is more important that you should make 
Sikeston in order that I may provide you with ammunition 
and caps, of which I have understood you are in need. Inde- 
pendent of this we are fitting a field battery for your bri- 
gade and you must place yourself in position to take charge 
of it. It is important that we threaten Bird's Point and that 
the enemy be led to believe that to be our point of attack, 
and you had better give out that idea. 

"You will please keep me advised of your movement. I 
will advise you of the probable time of advance. I shall 
probably place Colonel Walker's regiment as the supporting 
force for the battery I am constructing at this place. 

"GiD. J. Pillow, General Commanding." 

To General Jeff Thompson, Bloomfield. 

"Friday night at Kitheds." 
"General : 

"I sent you a dispatch this afternoon inviting your co- 
operation in a movement on the enemy encamped beyond 
Greenfield. Fearing that communication may not reach you 
I write again. 

"My command encamps to-night at Reve's Station and 
to-morrow night will reach Greenville. It is important you 
should unite your forces with mine without delay. I want 
particularly to have a personal interview with you before 
the battle commences. Hurry forward. If possible, throw 
a part of your force in rear of the enemy. 

"Wm. J. Hardee, Brigadier-General." 

These rumors of a large rebel force near the camp and 
amid the reorganization of the regiments for the three 
years' service, when there was more or less disorganization, 
was very disquieting, as they were badly situated for an 
attack. Colonel Wallace writes to his wife from Bird's 
Point, Missouri, on August 2d, 1861 : 

"To feel that the responsibility of a battle was upon me 
without adequate means to meet the emergency gave me 

[128] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

great anxiety. For more than ten days past I have not 
taken off my clothes at night and have slept very little. 
But to-night I breathe freer. General Fremont arrived this 
afternoon with eight steamboats loaded with Federal troops 
and munitions, inspiring us all with a hopeful feeling. 

"The General landed about 5 o'clock, and I had a very 
interesting interview of an hour with him and was pleased 
to find that the course I had taken met his approbation. 
His manner and tone inspired me with the conviction that 
he is the right man in the right place." 

On August 5th Colonel Wallace again writes : 
"Since I wrote you General Fremont has brigaded the 
forces at Cairo and Bird's Point, making General Prentiss 
acting General of division and placing me in command of 
the brigade here, so that your poor husband is now an act- 
ing General in command of the most important point in the 
West. You hardly expected that you would ever be 'Mrs. 
General Wallace,' but such you are in fact. Don't you feel 
proud? You will scarcely believe me, but it is true, that I 
would gladly lay down the honors of command could an 
honorable peace permit my return to you and the delights 
of our home. 

"The position I now hold was not sought by me. Indeed, 
I dreaded its responsibilities with my self-consciousness of 
inexperience in its tremendous duties. And when I felt 
that it was coming I earnestly prayed God to give me wis- 
dom and strength to fulfill its requirements in a just and 
proper manner. Pray for me, dearest, that I may be en- 
abled to do my whole duty, to God, to my country, and to 
you." 

Mrs. Wallace answers the above letter: 

"You ask me if I am not proud. I am no more so than 
I always have been. I just think others are finding out 
what I have known so long, that you are the noblest, brav- 
est, best man in the world." 

Colonel Wallace writes on August 6th : 

"I had hoped to see you soon, but you know as well as I 
that the Colonel of the Eleventh and the acting Brigadier- 

[129] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

General cannot leave his post in the hour of danger. The 
very danger that you seem to dread makes it imperative that 
I should remain here. Perhaps your consciousness that this 
was so, makes it the more to be feared by you. But seri- 
ously, I don't think the danger is much. You haven't heard 
of any Brigadier-General being killed on our side in this 
war, have you? They seem to have a much greater Im- 
munity than Colonels." 

The woman and the wife makes answer : 

"Ottawa, August 12th, 1861. 
"Your letter dated the 6th took away all hope of my see- 
ing you here. I never felt so sad in my life. I am very 
proud to know that you have been so trusted, yet my poor 
heart would rather have you a private, for they all come 
home for a little while at least. I see no help for it but for 
you to let me come to you. * * * * j want to come 
so badly. I am afraid I shall have to come without leave 
if you do not give it soon. This is not like a good soldier's 
wife, but I can't help it. * * * * I wish you knew 
what a comfort and delight your letters have been to me 
since we parted. They are such an alleviation of the sad, 
weary days. They each give me strength and fresh courage 
to take bravely the trial God has given me. If I could see 
you a little while I could live on letters such a long time 
again." 

A week later Colonel Wallace was able to make a hur- 
ried trip home, and spend a Sunday with his family. His 
wife writes the day after his return of the joy of it: 

"Ottawa, III., August 21st, 1861. 
"Your visit was so unexpected and short that it seems 
to look back upon as a happy, happy dream ! No one can 
tell the joy of it until they have known the anxious, weary 
waiting and sad disappointment that went before. I will 
try hard not to let myself get so babyish again." 

Colonel Wallace writes from his post, comparing the 
Sunday at home and the one in camp : 

[130] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"Bird's Point, Mo., August 25, 186L 
"It is Sunday afternoon, just one week since I spent that 
delightful Sunday with you in your quiet, beautiful home. 
How different the situation now. There all was serene, 
beautiful and peaceful — now and here, although quiet for 
camp, yet on every hand is seen the grim implements of de- 
struction and the stern preparation for war. The few brief 
hours I spent at home seems now like a delightful dream. 
But I am glad, very glad I went home, if it was but for a 
day. I shall now always think of you in that quiet, pleasant 
home, with its surroundings of beauty, and love and hope. 
Oh! how ardently I hope that I may soon be joined again 
to you there. Oh, for peace ! an honorable peace that would 
enable me to return permanently to you and the enjoy- 
ments of our home. God grant it may soon come. * * * 
But 'man proposes and God disposes.' In His hands are 
the destinies of nations, and He in His wisdom will in His 
own good time and for His own wise purpose conduct and 
close this war. We, as humble instruments, have but to 
discharge the duties we have in hand and leave the issue to 
Him." 

A little incident of camp life is told in a letter of August 
30, 1861, from Colonel Wallace to his wife, which probably 
was a common occurrence later in the war. 

"I have had quite an incident to-day. About noon the 
officer of the day brought in an officer in a strange uniform, 
who announced himself as the bearer of a flag of truce and 
a letter from General Pillow. I found General Pillow's 
letter to be a proposition to exchange prisoners and intro- 
ducing the bearer of the flag as Lieutenant Herndon of the 
Mississippi cavalry. He appeared a very gentlemanly fel- 
low, and of course, I treated him civilly, gave him his din- 
ner and detained him in polite confinement while I went to 
Cairo to consult with Colonel Oglesby in command there, as 
to the subject matter of General Pillow's communication. 
It was finally determined to exchange man for man of equal 
rank. I accordingly wrote a letter to General Pillow to that 
efifect and sent it, with a list of prisoners we now hold, by 
one of my Lieutenants, Lieutenant Tuft of Captain Nole- 

[131] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

man's cavalry, who accompanied Lieutenant Herndon on 
his return. 

"After the business was closed and the papers all pre- 
pared I rode out a mile or two with the party on their re- 
turn and talked with the secession officer on politics and the 
war. He was a stiff secessionist, but we didn't quarrel. 
When I parted with him we shook hands and he expressed 
the hope that we might meet under more peaceful circum- 
stances. 

"During the first interview I had with him he inquired 
after one of the prisoners we had and expressed a wish to 
write him a note, informing him of the health of his family 
and friends. I told him he could do so and I would see it 
delivered. I took it over to Cairo, and after getting through 
with my business, I went to the hospital where the prisoner 
was and gave him the letter. He took it and commenced 
reading it, trembling with joy and excitement. He was a 
member of the same company and seemed overjoyed to get 
news from his friends. He asked if he could write a note 
in reply. I told him certainly if he conveyed no informa- 
tion about us. He accordingly wrote a note which he sub- 
mitted to me, and in it he asked the Lieutenant to send him 
some money. I delivered the note and when the Lieutenant 
was about starting he asked me to take charge of some 
money for 'Frank,' the prisoner. I told him I would see 
that it was carried to him. He took out two $20 gold 
pieces and handed them to me. As I took them, I re- 
marked : 'You haven't discarded the Federal coin yet, I 
see. Lieutenant.' He smiled and seemed perplexed, but an- 
swered. 'No.' 

"I don't know what the powers that be will say about 
my action in consenting to an exchange of prisoners, but I 
am satisfied it must come to that, and I am willing to take 
the responsibility. I shall report the facts and correspon- 
dence to General Fremont to-night." 

On September 4th, Colonel Wallace writes that he had 
received marching orders, and was all ready at the hour des- 
ignated, "with two regiments, two companies of cavalry and 
a battery of four guns," As he says: "I had the infantry 
and cavalry in line with wagons loaded all ready for a 

[132] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

march, but the artillery was in Cairo, not subject to my im- 
mediate orders, was delayed and before they got across the 
river my marching orders were countermanded, and we are 
here yet, but subject to march on an hour's notice." 

On the 8th he writes his wife that their intention had 
been for the march into the interior : 

"Bird's Point, Mo., September 8th, 1861 
* * * * "It has been rather a busy day. This morn- 
ing General McClernand, Colonel Buford, Colonel Reardon 
and Colonel Lawler came over and I rode around the lines 
with them. About the time they left a boat arrived with a 
battery of artillery and a regiment of infantry from above, 
* * * * The move that I expected to have made, and 
which has unnecessarily caused you uneasiness, did not take 
place and probably will not, so I may as well tell you what 
it was. Take a map of Missouri and look at the southeast 
portion of the State. Pillow was at New Madrid pushing 
a column up through Sikeston towards Cape Girardeau. 
Jeff Thompson, another rebel leader, was at Benton and 
Commerce, with a body of Missouri State troops. Hardee, 
another rebel General, was at Greenville with another army. 
General Prentiss was at Ironton with 7,000 Federal troops. 
There were about 3,000 Federal troops at Cape Girardeau. 
General Prentiss moved from Ironton with his force and 
was to be joined at Jackson by the forces from Cape Girar- 
deau and move down towards Sikeston. I was to send a 
regiment to Belmont, opposite Columbus in Kentucky, and 
about twenty miles from here, and when I learned that Pren- 
tiss had made his juncture with the forces at the Cape and 
commenced moving on Sikeston I was to move to Charleston 
with two infantry regiments, two companies of cavalry and 
a battery of artillery to be ready to co-operate with Prentiss 
should the enemy make a stand at Sikeston. The regiment 
sent to Belmont was to join me at Charleston. If the ene- 
my did not make a stand at Sikeston we were to follow him 
to New Madrid and there try to drive him from Missouri. 
Prentiss' column reached Jackson and were there joined 
by the Cape Girardeau forces, but some question of rank 

[133] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

between General Prentiss and General Grant, who was in 
command at Cape Girardeau, threw things into confusion 
and the column did not move from Jackson south. I sent 
the regiment to Belmont and was all prepared, packed up 
and loaded so far as my limited means of transportation 
would allow, and had my men in line to start, when my 
marching orders were countermanded. In the meantime, 
the rebel forces fell back to New Madrid and have taken 
boat and gone to Columbus in Kentucky. A portion of 
them are within twenty miles on this side of the river oppo- 
site Columbus and we may have a brush with them yet, 
but I apprehend we will not move on them at once." 

The anxious wife writes on September 5th : 

"I find it very hard, in fact, almost impossible to interest 
myself in this company and this fair. My heart is not in 
it, but away off sharing your weary camp life, bearing your 
cares and perils." 

In answer the patriot husband at the front writes : 

"Bird's Point, September 10th, 1861. 

"I am sorry you did not enjoy the fair. Don't let 
thoughts of me prevent your enjoyment of matters passing 
around you. // / am successful and come out safely it is 
all right. If I fall it is glory enough to die in such a cause, 
and furnishes no reason for regret. Man must die some- 
time, and to die nobly is a boon granted to few. Not that 
I am tired of life, dearest. The hope of spending the fu- 
ture with you makes me wish for long life more than ever; 
but in the soldier's existence death is always a contingency 
that must be regarded. Of course, the ordinary chances of 
life are diminished in such a calling and it would be folly 
to overlook it. You may rest assured * * * * ^j^^^ 
you shall have no occasion to blush for me whatever may 
befall. 

"We are in the midst of exciting events. The occupa- 
tion of Kentucky by the belligerents is an important event, 
but I still hope that the share Kentucky may be called upon 
to act in the drama may be confined to her western borders. 

[134] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENER AL W. H. L. WALLACE 

A large force of rebels have occupied Hickman and Colum- 
bus. Our forces occupy Paducah and Fort Holt on the 
Kentucky shore opposite this point. The rebels also have a 
force on this side of the river some fifteen miles below 
here, and we have advanced a portion of our force to Nor- 
folk, five miles below here, so that our lines are within 
ten miles of each other. * * * * I am glad this sea- 
son of comparative inactivity is over. The sooner we get 
at our work the sooner it will be over." 

Some further extracts are given from Mrs. Wallace's 
letters, showing the woman's side in the cruel war which 
has not been so often told as the daring deeds of the men 
at the front: 

"Ottawa, September 9th, 186L 

"Your letters give me new courage and make me strong 
and brave for my woman's work, waiting and hoping. What 
a pleasant picture you draw of the end of it all when God 
shall have given us peace and given us to each other again. 
* * * * I think we will be all the happier for the cruel 
separation. You have made me such a happy woman so 
many years I can afford to have a few sad days and then 
have a happier lot than most other mortals. 

"This separation is the first real trial that we have had. 
Maybe we needed it to remind us that perfect happiness can 
not be known to sinners in chis world. Our life together 
has been very, very nearly perfect happiness. If it had not 
been interrupted we might have forgotten to strive for 
heaven." 

"Ottawa, September 10th, 1861. 
"I seem very near you in church. We have joined our 
hearts and voices so ofcen together there. Almost every 
petition seems to be made in your behalf or in my own by 
the whole congregation. God will answer such earnest 
prayers, perhaps not in the manner that we look for, but it 
surely cannot be in vain." 

Not long after this Mrs. Wallace spent a few days at 
Camp Lyon at Bird's Point with her husband, and writes 
on her return home : 

[135] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"The Oaks, Ottawa, Illinois, September 30th, 186L 
"I do not feel like writing a bit. I have been beside you 
and talked so much that I dislike to return to this old medi- 
um. * * * * I could not help but see when I was 
with you at Bird's Point how uneasy you were because I was 
in such an exposed position. I know it is because you love 
me so much that you felt so, but don't you know I love 
you? If I did not feel that I was a burden to you the dan- 
ger of your place would have no terrors for me so long as 
I could be near you. * * * * j^ ^^s so hard to leave 
you this time. It is not so hard for you. You are engaged 
in the work that takes you from me, and I am just waiting 
and watching until you get it done and can come to me and 
your home. It is a weary watching and looks very hopeless 
to me to-night." 



[136] 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Major-General Halleck in Command of Western De- 
partment. Battle of Belmont. 

WHEN General Halleck succeeded Generals Fremont 
and Hunter as commander of the Western Depart- 
jnent, he organized his department into military dis- 
tricts, appointing General Grant as Commander of the "Dis- 
trict of Cairo," which included "all the southern part of Il- 
linois, that part of Kentucky west of the Cumberland river, 
and the southern part of Missouri south of Cape Girar- 
deau." 

General Grant brigaded his military district as follows : 

Headquarters, District Southeast Missouri, 
Cairo, October 14, 1861. 
General Order No. 11. 

For the better convenience of administering the duties of 
this military district, this command will be brigaded as fol- 
lows, subject to such changes as may be deemed necessary 
in the future : 

First brigade as now organized, and commanded by 
Brigadier-General John A. McClernand, with the addition 
of the Tenth and Eighteenth Illinois regiments, Schwartz's 
battery of lighr artillery, and Stewart's cavalry. 

Second brigade will be composed of Eighth regiment Il- 
linois volunteers, Seventh Iowa, and Twenty-second Illinois, 
Captain Houghtaling's Light Artillery, and five companies 
of Second Illinois cavalry, yet to be assigned, and will be 
under command of Colonel R. J. Oglesby. 

Third brigade will be composed of the Eleventh and 
Twentieth Illinois regiments. Second Iowa regiment. Cap- 
tain Taylor's Battery of Light Artillery, and Langen's, 
Pfaff's, Burill's, and Noleman's cavalry, and will be under 
command of Colonel W. H. L. Wallace. 

Fourth brigade. Colonel John Cook commanding, will be 
composed of the Seventh and Twenty-eighth Illinois regi- 

[137] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

ments, McAllister's company of light artillery, DeLano^s 
cavalry, and one company of Second Illinois regiment o'f 
cavalry. 

Fifth brigade, Colonel Plummer commanding, will be 
composed of the Eleventh Missouri, Seventeenth Illinois, 
and Tenth Iowa regiments. Headquarters at Cape Girar- 
deau. 

The command of the Post of Cairo, including Mound 
City, will be retained by General McClernand. 

Brigade commanders will make their report immediately 
to these headquarters. 

By order of Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, commanding. 

John A. Rawlins, 
Assistant Adjutant-General. 

There had still been no very serious engagements when 
General Wallace writes home on October 15th, 1861, telling 
of some of the passing events in camp at Bird's Point. 

"I went to Cairo this morning and while there was intro- 
duced to Commodore Porter, the commandant of the gun- 
boat fleet here. At his invitation I went with him onto his 
boat, the New Era, and he fired two shells from his im- 
mense quick guns. They fell in the river two and a half 
miles off and exploded in the water. 

"General Grant has brigaded the forces here and given 
me command of one of the brigades, the Third. We are 
to have a general review of all the forces here to-morrow at 
10:30 o'clock. General Grant reviews us. 

"The flag of truce that came up on a boat from Colum- 
bus yesterday, was ostensibly for the purpose of negotiating 
for an exchange of prisoners. It brought a letter from 
General Polk (the Rev. Bishop rebel General) asking for 
an exchange 'upon the principles recognized in the exchange 
made by General Pillow and Colonel Wallace.' General 
Grant declined to negotiate, but referred the matter to high- 
er authority. I think he might as well exchange, for it 
must come to that in the end." 

After the review Colonel Wallace writes about it to his 
wife: 

[138] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"October 16th. We had a grand review to-day. General 
Grant was to have reviewed us and I had the whole force 
in line at 10:30 o'clock, and waited an hour for the General. 
He then sent word that his services would be postponed till 
further orders. But I determined that the review should 
go on and I reviewed them myself. It was a fine sight. 
Six companies of infantry, five companies of cavalry, and a 
light battery of six guns. It was as fine a column as I ever 
saw. The line was a mile long. All were highly pleased 
with the display." The soldiers probably equally admired 
their commanding officer, as many have said General Wal- 
lace was one of the finest looking men on horse-back they 
ever saw. 

The following day he again writes to his wife: 

"Bird's Point, October 17. 
"No news and no new movements. What can I write you 
about. Nothing but the old story. * * * * Old, but 
none the worse for its age, I hope. That tale, old as Adam's 
conversation with Eve, but new as the Eden in which they 
dwelt. I love you none the less, than I loved you twelve 
years ago, but my love, like a sturdy, vigorous oak, has 
grown broader and deeper and stronger with its age, until 
its roots are so entwined and interlaced with the very foun- 
dations of my being, that it seems to lose it would be to de- 
stroy my very life." 

On October 21st, he again writes of details of post life: 
"Yesterday I rode with Colonel Oglesby over to Cairo, 
attended a review of the Eighteenth regiment and dined 
with General McClernand. In the evening there was quite 
a collection of officers at headquarters, and it was late be- 
fore we got through talking, so that I did not feel like 
writing. * * * * j ^^^y be with you as I have applied 
for a leave of absence. If I get it and all is as quiet here 
then as now, I shall run home for a few days." 

His wife writes: 

"Ottawa, October 22d. 
"Come if you can and do right, if not stay at your post. 
I love you all the more because you can give up your home 

[139] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

and all its comforts and endearments when our struggling 
country calls. Such men as you must win. All will yet be 
well. Oh ! may God give you back to me when this sad con- 
test is over." 

General Wallace was home for a few days and while 
away occurred the expedition and battle of Belmont in Mis- 
souri on November 7th. Cyrus Dickey wrote his sister, 
Mrs. Wallace, as they were starting out : 

"Commerce, Mo., 35 Miles North of Cairo, 
"November 4th, 186L 
"Dear Sister : 

"We have started on an expedition at last with two 
weeks' rations. The object of it or direction of it is not yet 
made public. About 5,000 men, infantry, cavalry and artil- 
lery with ample transportation. We arrived here to-day by 
river and take up the line of march to-morrow at sunrise. 
We have only five companies of the Eleventh under Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Ransom. The expedition is under command 
of Colonel Oglesby. Our companies are C, D, E. G and R, 
and Captain Noleman's cavalry. 

"We are now outside the postal communication with the 
United States and you will probably not hear from me 
again until the close of the expedition. I have no notion 
how long. 

"The whole troop is in good health and spirits. I am 
very sorry Wallace was not at the Point on Saturday, for 
I think I have good reason to believe that General Grant 
intended to give him the command of the expedition and 
waited for him to the last moment." 

Colonel Wallace arrived at Bird's Point by the sixth and 
made immediate preparations to join the expedition. He 
writes his wife : 

"Bird's Point, Mo., November 6th, 186L 
'<****! found on my arrival here that an expedi- 
tion has gone under Colonel Oglesby out west, and that 
Colonel Ransom and Cyrus have gone along with five com- 

[140] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

panics of the Eleventh. I start to-night with the balance of 
the regiment to join them. I go to Charleston by rail and 
from thence march by land. I expect to join Oglesby's com- 
mand at or near Bloomfield. I cannot say how long we shall 
be out, perhaps several days. * * * My mind is filled 
with pleasant remembrances of my visit home. These busy 
scenes and active preparation cannot drive them altogether 
from me. I write amid the hurried bustle of preparing for 
our departure with a hundred interruptions to inquire about 
this and that, but amid it all and underlying all my active 
thoughts runs the strong, deep current of my love for you, 
an ever present, all pervading consciousness full of pleas- 
ure. God in His great mercy grant that it may always be 
so, and that we may be restored to each other and to the 
full enjoyment of our great love for each other." 

Colonel Wallace did not arrive in time for the battle of 
Belmont, which occurred November 7th. "It was a bloody 
and stormily contested battle, and one that caused much 
criticism. The enemy was encamped on high ground about 
two and a half miles from the landing, which they could 
easily see and command with their guns. The fight was 
continuous from the landing on the Federal side up to the 
enemy's camp, which was taken after severe fighting, but 
could not be held, as heavy reinforcements were coming in 
and the Federal soldiers fell back to their boats, fighting all 
the way back against desperate odds." 

"The engagement was supposed to be necessary to pro- 
tect our southwestern army in Missouri from overwhelming 
forces being rapidly consolidated against it from Arkansas, 
Tennessee and Columbus, Ky. The struggle was a des- 
perate one." 

Colonel Wallace thought it had been unwise to attempt 
the battle, as he writes : "The advantages were all against 
the attempt and any permanent or substantial good an ut- 
ter impossibility under the circumstances. * * * * j^ 
is called a victory, but if such be victory, God save us from 
defeat. True, it demonstrated the courage and fighting 
qualities of our men, but it cost too much. * * * * j 

[141] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

saw Mrs. B's friend, the Right Reverend Major-General 
Polk. Many of the rebel officers were very pleasant gen- 
tlemen, but Polk's manner made me mad when I remem- 
bered his former position and profession as a minister of 
the Gospel of peace, to see him strutting in the livery of 
rebellion like some vain cadet." 

This same rebel, General Polk, and General Wallace met 
again on the hard fought field of Shiloh, where they were 
within seventy-five feet of one another when General Wal- 
lace fell. General Polk sent one of his officers to find out 
who "that brave man was." 

Mrs. Wallace had been making some visits among rela- 
tives down in the central part of the State, and on her re- 
turn writes to her husband: 

"Ottawa, December 2d, 186L 
"How comfortable and luxuriant our home is. I have 
been nowhere among our friends that are so well fixed as 
we are, thanks to your loving care. I have envied happy 
wives the society of their husbands, but none are so proud 
as I am. They all seem to apologize and give good reasons 
why their husbands are not in the army. I am proud and 
happy to be Will Wallace's wife at home. * * * * 
Captain Rockwood took luncheon with us at Aunt M's in 
Delavan. In talking of the battle of Belmont, the Captain 
said if you had been with Grant the result would have been 
better. I told him I supposed Grant was in command and 
would have done as he thought best. He said you had made 
the lay of the land about there your study and they all knew 
it and that a suggestion from you went a great ways, even 
if you were not first in command." 

General Fremont was in command of the Western De- 
partment but a few months. For a very brief time General 
David Hunter was in command, to be followed by General 
H. W. Halleck, who assumed the command on November 
9th, 1861, which he held until July, 1862, when he was made 
Commander in Chief of the armies of the United States, 
with headquarters at Washington City. 

[142] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

The following extracts from Colonel Wallace's letters 
will show the feeling in the Western army at the lack of a 
competent head, and the changing so frequently of com- 
manding Generals so disastrous to a cause: 

"Bird's Point, November 26, 1861. 

"We have a new General (General Halleck) at St. Louis 
and there seems to be a new order of things, but whether it 
will be any improvement on the old remains to be seen. I 
am getting very tired of this and feel strongly the necessity 
of some head — some leading mind on whom I can rely, and 
feel that in so doing I am directed by a mind that con- 
ceives the crisis and comprehends the means of meeting it. 
This feeling of doubt and distrust is terrible when there 
are such momentous issues at stake." 

"December 1, 1861. 

"I am becoming discouraged at the prospect. The Gov- 
ernment seems to be unequal to the emergency. In spite of 
the perils and dangers with which it is surrounded, those 
who ought to adopt vigorous and efficient measures to meet 
and crush the rebellion seem to be devoting their time and 
talents to rewarding political favorites and enriching mer- 
cenary contractors. * * * * "We lack a head — a fatal 
lack in times like these. Changes constantly recurring in 
Generals, accompanied by changes of plan, have resulted 
only in inaction and the wealth of men and means which the 
patriotism of the country poured out, so far from being 
moulded and fashioned into an army to crush the traitors 
are fast degenerating into a mob. Unless some vigorous 
measures are at once adopted our army will soon be a 
source of weakness instead of strength to the Federal Gov- 
ernment. Men whose capacity is not above that of a regi- 
mental Quartermaster, are put into positions where it is 
their duty to plan campaigns and move thousands or tens of 
thousands of soldiers to battle. With such counsels govern- 
ing, defeat and disgrace is certain. * * * * 

"Excuse me for inflicting on you these gloomy forebod- 
ings, but I write as I feel and think, and as I write to no 
one else in this spirit you must bear with me. I feel as 
if I need some other incentive to urge me on in this war. 

[143] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Your brave words of devotion and patriotism have done 
much to sustain me, and although I have often had these 
thoughts I never have expressed them so strongly before. 
The convictions have been gaining ground for some time. I 
pray I may be mistaken in my judgment of the signs of the 
times." 

In another letter he writes : "We seem to have won a 
substantial victory in Kentucky at Somerset. I hope it may 
be followed by others, and if it is my lot to bear a part in 
them, I hope, dear Ann, you may not have occasion to blush 
for me. I know you would, much as you love me, rather 
weep for me honorably dead, than blush for me living. And 
yet, I see how a brave man may be so circumstanced that 
he may be blamed and disgraced even when doing his ut- 
most. Such are the chances of war, and it is under un- 
skilful leaders that I fear more, far more than the personal 
dangers of the conflict." 

His wife answers these gloomy forebodings. 

"Ottawa, Illinois, December 5th. 
"If you have conceived a plan that if carried out you 
think is good and you know of men that can do it and will 
do it right if they were put in power, would it not be well 
for you (in fact your duty) to go to Lincoln and Cameron 
or write it out plainly and have the right man go for you 
and at least give them the benefit of your thought in re- 
gard to the Western Division at least. Do not ask for any- 
thing for yourself and refuse any preferment that should by 
any chance be offered, and then there is little room to im- 
pugn your motives and more certainty to have your views 
studied. I know you will say and think that your wife's 
opinion of the dear soldier husband's capacity is too exalted. 
Your opinion may have more weight than your modesty 
gives it credit for." 

Mrs. Wallace made a little visit to her husband at Cairo 
the first of the year and on her return resumes her letter 
writing. 

[144] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"The Oaks, Ottawa, Illinois, January 7, 1862. 
"Here I am again at my old evening's work just talking 
to you before I sleep. * * * * Our dear little Blos- 
som is growing sweeter and dearer every day. She is like 
sunshine in the house. She is doing a great deal of thinking 
nowadays. To-day she asked me in a very thoughtful man- 
ner — without anything to introduce the subject that I could 
see without it was the anatomy of her doll — who made her. 
I told her God made her and tried for the first time to tell 
her there was a God that made us all and everything and 
who kept us alive and loved good and hated wrong, who 
lived high up beyond the stars and could see us all always. 
1 never will forget the pleasant wonder of her thoughtful 
face. Then to-night before she went to bed I told her that 
that good Father in heaven would hear her if she would 
ask Him to take care of her all night and to take care of 
papa and bring him safe home, and with the pure faith 
of a child she lisped her first prayer, me prompting her. 
Do you not feel strong, dearest, with that little innocent 
pleading for you ? Oh ! I do believe you will come back 
safe to us. * * * * l have not got fairly settled at 
home again yet. I am living over again in my thoughts 
so many of those precious hours that we spent together. 
It looks a long time until the 'eighteenth' but I find I am 
already enjoying your visit in anticipation." 

Colonel Wallace answers the above letter: 

"Bird's Point, January 12th, 1862. 
"I have read over and over again your dear letter of 
Tuesday evening last, wherein you give me an account of 
your first lesson to Blossom about God and her first prayer, 
and I have been unable to read it without a swelling heart 
and a dim eye. * * * * j f^it ^ stronger faith in a 
Divine Providence when I knew that the fervent prayers of 
two such pure souls were going up in my behalf, and I felt 
a stronger desire to be worthy of such pure intercession. 
* * * * Kiss Blossom and tell her Papa loves his little 
Blossom and prays to Our Heavenly Father for her and 
Mamma and he wants little Blossom to love him and pray 
for him." 

[145] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

In answer to this letter of her husband's Mrs. Wallace 
writes on January 14, 1862 : "It seems strange, but very 
pleasant to me to have you in the midst of all the busy, 
rough preparations for moving troops stop and read over 
and over the simple story of a baby's first prayer. Do be- 
lieve that it is an acceptable service and that strong angels 
will keep guard over you in answer to it. Oh! if our little 
one could always keep her simple faith of to-day unaflfected 
by the careless indifference that years so often bring, God 
helping her, she will." 

Colonel Wallace writes of an expedition they are about 
to make, which shows his care for his men, his faith in God 
and his great love for his country : 

"Bird's Point, January 13th, 1862. 

"We are again under marching orders to leave here to- 
morrow. We cross into Kentucky — where we go I don't 
know. ****!(■ is cold — very cold. It has snowed 
some to-day and the river is covered with floating ice. The 
cold weather cannot last long, however, and the men are in 
fine spirits at the prospect of a forward movement. I have 
taken every precaution in my power to make them com- 
fortable and I hope we may make the movement without 
much suffering. * * * * \Yg t^ke five days' rations. 

"Going as we do without knowing where or on what par- 
ticular mission, of course, makes us all feel somewhat anx- 
ious, and it makes me feel that I am in the hands of a kind 
and over-ruling Providence, who will order all for the best. 
I feel and have ever felt since I embarked in this cause 
that the hand of God was in it, and that out of all the 
seeming evil He would evoke the greatest good. Men, even 
the ablest and the best, are but instruments to accomplish 
His ends ; and if He wills that they perish on the field or 
live to return to their homes, all is for the best. Man can 
die but once and to fall in support of the Constitution and 
the Government our fathers established under so many evi- 
dences of Divine favor is no mean ending of this period of 
existence. But I am looking to the worst contingency. Be- 
sides this, there is the prospect of doing what I may to es- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

tablish the Government and then return unscathed to enjoy 
all the deHghts of home." 

Mrs. Wallace was naturally anxious at this unknown ex- 
pedition and writes on January 17th: 

"I can think of nothing but the unknown perils of this 
expedition. I am loving you, and hoping for you and pray- 
ing for you, and may that knowledge make you strong for 
your work, able by God's help to win a lasting victory 
* * * * do not risk yourself unnecessarily. I am 
proud to believe that you have moral courage to order a 
retreat if the great cause you fight for would not be bene- 
fited by an advance, and I know that no personal danger 
would turn you back from a known duty." 

On January twentieth the expedition was back in their 
old quarters and Colonel Wallace wrote : 

"The trip we have made has resulted in at least one good 
thing for us — It has demonstrated that we can move over 
any kind of roads and that we can stand any kind of 
weather, for it has been very cold and exceedingly wet and 
rainy ever since we started, and yet our men have been not 
only well but cheerful. The Eleventh preserved its good 
name for orderly conduct and promptness in the discharge 
of duty when some other regiments suffered. The officers 

and men of the were publicly reprimanded by General 

Grant for plundering, and five dollars for each officer and 
one dollar for each private in the regiment was ordered to 
be stopped from their pay." 

After receiving Mrs. Wallace's letter, showing her great 
anxiety at the expedition, he answers it on January twenty- 
second at Bird's Point. 

"I sincerely commiserate the suffering and suspense you 
endured on account of our recent movement. I felt it would 
be so, and yet I cannot say I would have it otherwise, be- 
cause had you not feared and been troubled you had not 
loved me. Strange, is it not, that such suffering is insep- 
arable from a great love? But you are relieved now. The 
papers have told you, even before my letters did so, that 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

we are all safely back to our old quarters. I was in Cairo 
to-day. ****]; }-,ad quite a talk with our old friend 
Commodore Foote. He always inquires about you, and to- 
day he wished to be remembered to you. While talking 
with him in the public room of the St. Charles a naval 
officer came up and he introduced us and went on to say, 
'He is a fine lawyer and soon to be a Brigadier-General and 
I hope a Major-General before the war is over.' I looked 
at the officer, thinking the Commodore was talking to me 
about him, but soon saw he was talking to him about me. 
Such excessive praise from such a source was too much for 
my modesty and I actually blushed." 

The country was not entirely given up to war. Politics 
still had a share in national affairs. The friends of Judge 
Davis of Illinois were anxious to have him placed on the 
Supreme Bench of the United States, a gift in the power 
of the President. Mr. Leonard Swett, a devoted friend of 
both Davis and Wallace, and a very prominent lawyer and 
politician in Illinois, wrote the following letter to Colonel 
Wallace asking him to write to Lincoln and also refers to 
other political matters of the day. 

"St Louis, January 28th, 1862. 
"Colonel William H. L. Wallace, 

"Bird's Point, Mo. 
"Dear Sir : 

"The friends of Judge Davis are making an effort to 
have him appointed Judge of the Supreme Court for the 
new district of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. I have already 
sent forward a paper signed by the most prominent men 
of the present State convention of our State. They signed 
it very generally and irrespective of party. John T. Stew- 
ard has also written. 

"I wish you would write to Mr. Lincoln upon this sub- 
ject. It is a sad commentary upon supposed human grati- 
tude that this is required, but it is required. The President 
is hanging fire between Browning and Davis. 

"I wish you would write as soon as you can, for I sup- 
pose the matter will soon be decided. 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"I don't know anything of moment now. I think the 
convention will make a good constitution, making compar- 
atively few changes. I think they will extend the jurisdiction 
of the County Courts and give them to Justices without a 
Grand Jury the right to dispose of the smaller misde- 
meanors. They will reduce the circuits to a proper size and 
give a Judge from $2,000 to $2,800. Also, I think they 
will create the office of State Chancellor who will have 
chancery cases which now go to Supreme Court and leave 
the Supreme Court about as it is. 

"No material changes occur here. The secessionists are 
still able to carry local elections in the city. In the Cham- 
ber of Commerce they at first prevailed and since in the 
elections of the Mercantile Library Association they elected 
their ticket by 200 majority. 

"It seems to me, confidentially, that General Halleck is 
too much the Governor of Missouri rather than the leader 
of an army. His administrative faculties seem to be good, 
but he is the back-office lawyer of the concern rather than 
an active leader. 

"I am informed a large number of troops will leave here 
for Cairo this week. Yours truly, 

"Leonard Swett." 



[149] 



CHAPTER XV. 
Capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. 

NOW began the onward march of events that went 
steadily forward until culminating in the surrender 
of Lee at Appomatox in April, 1865. On February 
second the troops started for the capture of Fort Henry, a 
stronghold of the Confederates on the Tennessee River. 
Colonel Wallace writes his wife of the intended expedition: 

"Bird's Point, February 1, 1862. 

"We are under marching orders if going by steam may 
be called marching. We leave to-morrow morning. We go 
up the Ohio and Tennessee rivers and you may hear of us 
near the Tennessee line next. ♦ * * * j c^n say to 
you what I cannot say to any here, that these troops with 
others from Cairo, Fort Holt, Paducah and Smithland to 
the number of about fifteen thousand go up the Tennessee 
to take Fort Henry, which is situated on the Tennessee 
river just above the line. If successful we will have the 
honor of being the first Federal troops on Tennessee soil. 
I understand unofficially that I am to command a brigade 
consisting of the Eleventh, Twentieth and Forty-eighth Il- 
linois regiments, the Fourth cavalry (your pa's) and Tay- 
lor's battery and another battery of artillery. Six gunboats 
accompany the expedition — I hope you may hear a good ac- 
count of us. 

"This move may interfere with my seeing you on the 
eighteenth (the anniversary of their wedding which they 
had always spent together), but I yet hope it may be pos- 
sible — I should regret it very much if I should be deprived 
of that pleasure. * * * * How much I have to thank 
you for. My all of happiness of life is clustered around 
you. The many years we have spent together furnish abun- 
dant most pleasant food for memory and inspire hope for 
the future. You talk of my praise being pleasant to you. 
♦ * * * j£ J could express all your goodness, your 

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LIFE"AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

loving kindness, your constant, patient attention, your noble 
self-sacrifice, I would indeed sketch a character worthy of 
all honor and love. Know that deep down in my heart, un- 
derlying all my thoughts, animating all my hopes, hghting 
up all my fondest and dearest memories, and inspiring all 
my desires and wishes, is the dear image of yourself. 
* * * * Without your love or without the love I bear 
you, I should not be myself. It is a part, the best part, 
of my life. It has made me and is still making me a better 
man in the endeavor it inspires to be worthy of that which 
I prize more than all on earth." 

The official announcement giving Colonel Wallace com- 
mand of a Brigade. 

HEyVDQUARTERS FiRST DIVISION, 

Cairo, Illinois, February 5, 1862. 
Special Order No. 4. 
Colonel W. H. L. Wallace, 

Commanding 11th Regiment Illinois Volunteers. 
Sir: 

By General Order No. 5 of Brigadier-General U. S. Grant 
commanding the District of Cairo, dated February 1st, 1862, 
the following regiments and unattached companies compose 
the Second Brigade of the First Division : 

The Eleventh regiment Illinois Volunteers, Colonel W. 
H. L. Wallace ; the Twentieth regiment Illinois Volunteers, 
Colonel C. C. Marsh ; the Forty-fifth regiment Illinois Vol- 
unteers, Colonel I. E. Smith; the Forty-eighth regiment Il- 
linois Volunteers, Colonel I. N. Haynie; the Fourth regi- 
ment Illinois cavalry, T. Lyle Dickey. 

Taylor's and McAllister's artillery, the latter with four 
siege guns : 

By the same general order you, as senior Colonel of the 
Brigade, are assigned to the command. 

You will please report to these headquarters the strength 
of your command, the names of the officers commanding — 
and the date of their rank, preparatory to numbering and 
classifying them. 

After embarkation please communicate with the General 
commanding for further Instructions. 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

By order of 

Brigadier-General John A. McClernard. 

M. Braymass^ a. A. General. 
A general order given to a Brigade Commander. 

Headquarters First Division, 
On Board the "Alps/' February 4th, 1862. 
Field Order No. 10. 
In planning the encampment for the troops, the Com- 
manders of Brigades of the Division will strictly adhere to 
the following rules, viz : 

L The batteries of artillery of their commands to be 
put in the most commanding positions, giving them a wide 
range, if possible. 

2. The proper support must always be given to the bat- 
teries in locating the infantry camps. 

3. If the camping ground is wanting commanding posi- 
tions for the artillery, the encampments of the same ought 
to have a central position, protected by infantry in front and 
rear, as well as on the flanks. In this case the guns will not 
be unlimbered. 

4. Cavalry not on picket or other duty ought to be kept 
in the rear. 

5. The infantry camps ought to be located with a view 
to an immediate formation into line of battle, which must 
be, at all times and under all circumstances, before the 
encampments, and fronting the enemy. 

6. Public roads and other means of communication 
must not be obstructed by the encampment or baggage 
trains. 

7. The baggage trains of regiments and independent 
companies must be kept in the rear of the respective en- 
campments. 

8. Brigade headquarters should have a central and most 
acceptable location, and the main guards should have their 
fires nearby. 

9. Requisitions and returns for provisions and forage 
must be made in due form, and corresponding to the num- 
ber of men present on the morning reports. They must be 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

approved at Brigade headquarters before issues can be 
made. 

10. The guards, including the men for the picket hne, 
composed of 300 men, more or less, will be mounted at 8 
o'clock in the morning. 

11. By breaking the camps the troops will always be 
provided with one day's rations, already cooked, to be car- 
ried in their haversacks. 

By order of 

Brigadier-General John A. McClernand, 
Commanding First Division. 
A. Schwartz, 

Captain and Acting Chief of Field Staff. 

On February second, on the journey up the river to Fort 
Henry, General Wallace had the sorrow of losing his 
younger brother, Matthew by drowning. As his Assistant 
Adjutant-General, Lieutenant L P. Rumsey, says: "We 
saw the tenderness of his heart when, as we started from 
Cairo, the news came of the death of his youngest brother, 
an officer in the Fourth cavalry, who was drowned from 
their boat as it lay at Cairo, but still the man and the sol- 
dier went bravely on with present duty." General Wallace 
writes his wife of the sad event: 

"On Board Steamer D. A. January, 
Cairo, February 3, 1862. 
"I have sad news to write. Brother Matthew fell over- 
board ofif the steamer Chancellor last evening and was 
drowned. It was a dark cold day and everything was cov- 
ered with sleet. His company had embarked on the boat 
and it pushed out into the stream to make room for another 
boat. He was passing along the guard and slipped. He put 
out his hand against one of the swinging beams used as 
fenders — it gave way and he lost his balance and fell over- 
board forward of the wheel and passed under the wheel, 
and although he had his saber, carbine and pistol on and his 
overcoat, he struck out and swam some distance toward 
the shore, but the load was too much for him and he sank 

[153] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

before assistance reached him. Poor Mat ! Had he fallen 
in action I should not have felt it so keenly, as that is the 
fate a soldier contemplates, but to be thus cut off in the 
flush of his youth, with a bright career just opening before 
him, is indeed most sad." 

He writes again February 4th : 

"We are here four miles below Fort Henry on the east 
side of the Tennessee river. We can see the rebel flag for 
the first time floating over their forces. We landed here 
this afternoon and are now occupying a series of hills run- 
ning back from the river. * * * * j a,m very tired 
to-night. I haven't got used to my new responsibilities as 
commander of a brigade in the field and feel of course, a 
great deal of anxiety about details. I trust, however, that 
all may, with the will of God, work for the best. My quar- 
ters to-night are in a negro cabin, with my brigade biv- 
ouacked on the hills about me. I have just sent out my last 
instructions for the night." 

Dr. T. M. Eddy tells of the attack on Fort Henry in his 
"Patriotism of Illinois:" 

"The General commanding ordered the First Division, 
General McClernand's, including the First and Second bri- 
gades, to take a position on the roads from Fort Henry to 
Donelson and Dover to prevent the reinforcement of the 
fort or the escape of its garrison and to be in readiness to 
charge and take Fort Henry by storm on the receipt of 
orders. The Second Division, commanded by General C. F. 
Smith, was to cross the river and move up the western 
shore and occupy a hill overlooking the fort which the ene- 
my had begun to fortify, and then to send a portion of his 
force across the river and reinforce General McCIernand. 
The gunboats were to shell the fort and drive the enemy 
from the guns. Commodore Foote urged the land forces to 
start in advance of the gunboats and when he ascertained 
they would not, said pleasantly, but prophetically, 'I will 
take the fort before you get there.' 

"The two divisions set out as ordered. The First made 
every exertion to get up into position to intercept the gar- 

[154] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

rison, but the Tennessee mud was too deep. Over slippery 
hills, through tenacious swamps, the Illinois boys pressed 
eagerly forward, marching to the music of Foote's deep- 
mouthed artillery and the reply of the heavy guns from Fort 
Henry, Suddenly all was still, and the question ran along 
the lines, 'What does it mean? Is Foote beaten?' They 
were to learn that the majority of the boasting garrison had 
fled from their camp and that the remainder had surren- 
dered. In addition to mud McClernand was obstructed by 
outer lines of defense made by felling the timber for several 
rods in breadth until the piled trunks and mingled branches 
made a barrier truly difficult to scale." 

General Wallace's brigade was on this march, and on 
February seventh he writes his wife from the fort : 

"We are here, got in yesterday afternoon after the gun- 
boats had shelled the enemy out. We (the Second Brigade) 
were some three or four miles out, on the march, when the 
cannonading ceased. It lasted about two hours and was 
tremendous. The efifect of the fire on the fortifications 
here was terrible. Guns dismantled, earthworks torn up 
and the evidence of carnage meet the eye on every hand. It 
was a strong place and could have been held by a deter- 
mined force for a long time. The enemy seemed to have 
been seized with a panic and the whole body, some four or 
five thousand, left, leaving one artillery company in the 
fort. General Lloyd Tilghman, who is in command of this 
district or division of the rebel forces, is among the pris- 
oners.' * * * * 'pjig Eleventh didn't get under fire, but 
hope for better luck next time. * * * * xhe men 
have been without tents most of the time since we started 
and were exposed to a tremendous rain the night before we 
reached here. The roads were horrible, but notwithstanding 
this they marched and took the heavy trains of artillery over 
the worst roads I ever saw." 

The marriage anniversary of General and Mrs. Wallace 
was on the eighteenth of February, which they had always 
spent together, and Mrs. Wallace had hoped her husband 

[155] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

would be able to be at home for the day, but this hope was 
shattered by the following letter: 

"Headquarters Second Brigade, First Division, 
"Fort Henry, Tennessee, February 11, 1862, 
"The prospects for being with you on the eighteenth are 
very poor indeed. In fact, I am reluctantly compelled to 
admit that it is impossible, and so is the project of your 
coming to me. We are concentrating a large force here 
and some important forward movement ought to be made 
at once. But, even if it should not, this is no place for you. 
1 know you would brave all the danger of coming here, but 
I ought not and cannot permit it." 

Mrs. Wallace's disappointment was deep — that they 
could not spend their anniversary together, the first they 
had missed since their marriage. 

She writes on February 11th: 

"The disappointment is almost more than I can bear. 
To be a good wife for such a good soldier I ought to send 
you brave words prompted by a brave heart. I am too sad. 
* * * * The days so filled with sweet memories make 
me more a wife than a patriot, I ought to be proud that it 
is your lot to stand successfully between your threatened 
country and her enemies. I ought to be grateful to the kind 
Father that has thus far preserved you amid many perils." 

Then followed the march on Fort Donelson with the in- 
vesture and four days' fight, ending in the surrender on the 
sixteenth. 

Before going into detail in regard to General Wallace's 
movements, some extracts are given from Mrs. Wallace's 
letters, showing the anxiety and tension of the women at 
home when a battle was in progress : 

"Ottawa, Illinois, February 13th. 
"Our papers to-day tell of no result as yet at Fort Don- 
elson. Oh! that that stronghold was ours as well as Fort 
Henry. I cannot but dread the battle. God help us and our 
loved country." 

[156] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"February 14th, 1862. 

"There is a party over at Judge Caton's to-night. The 
others have gone. Mrs. Caton seemed to want me to at- 
tend very much, but the thought of you before Fort Don- 
elson is in my mind every minute. The gay scene could not 
be agreeable." 

"February 17, 1862. 

"This Monday morning I give you a word or two hoping, 
praying it may find you safe. I cannot write, I can only 
wait, almost holding my breath, wishing, yet dreading to 
hear the result of the deadly conflict that I feel is going on 
at Fort Donelson. Oh, God in mercy, spare me !" 

"February 18, 1862. 
"I believe you are safe. Your name is not in that dread 
list. A kind Father has heard my prayer. * * * * A 
week ago I could not have believed that I could have passed 
this anniversary so happy away from you. But the compar- 
ative relief from my anxious dread of danger to you and 
other dear ones is such that I have felt exhilarated and hap- 

py." 

Mrs. Wallace had had a new black brocaded silk gown 
made lo grace the occasion should her husband come home 
for their anniversary. When he did not come it was put 
away until he should. He never came home again. When 
he was taken the dress was put away for her own burial. 
The little package went with her over many miles of travel 
— over home land and foreign lands — oceans and mountains. 
Her daughter was told what it contained, and for what pur- 
pose it was to be used, but never saw it until the sad time 
that it was needed. It had been folded away twenty-seven 
years. 

On the twelfth of February the forward march began on 
Fort Donelson, twelve miles distant from Fort Henry, with 
a force of about fifteen thousand troops divided into two 
divisions under the command of Generals McClernand and 
Smith. The fort was invested, but no fighting, except 
skirmishing on the lines, was done until the arrival of the 
gunboats on the thirteenth and another division under Gen- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

eral Lew Wallace, and the battle was begun on the four- 
teenth by firing from the gunboat fleet of Commodore 
Foote, but the boats after a couple of hours were disabled 
when Grant attempted to invest the fort and take it by 
siege. This was frustrated by the enemy making a sortie 
and attacking the Union forces. A terrible battle raged for 
several hours. 

The rebel Generals in command of Fort Donelson were 
Generals Pillow, Floyd, Buckner and Bushrod Johnson. 
Pillow and Floyd deserted their friends, leaving the com- 
mand to S. B. Buckner, who on the sixteenth, addressed a 
communication to the Federal General commanding for 
terms of capitulation, to which Grant, then General com- 
manding, made the answer that has passed into history. 

"Headquarters, Army in the Field, 
"Camp Near Donelson, February 16, 1862. 
"To General S. B. Buckner, Confederate Army: 

"Yours of this date, proposing an armistice and appoint- 
ment of commissioners to settle terms of capitulation is just 
received. No terms other than an unconditional and imme- 
diate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move imme- 
diately upon your works. 

"I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
"U. S. Grant, Brigadier-General. U. S. A. 

"Commanding." 

General Buckner had but to surrender or subject his men 
to unnecessary carnage. He answered as follows : 

"Headquarters, Dover, Tennessee. 
"February 16, 1862. 
"To Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, U. S. A. 
"Sir: 

"The distribution of the forces under my command, inci- 
dent to an unexpected change of commanders, and the over- 
whelming force under your command, compel me, nothwith- 
standing the brilliant success of the Confederate arms yes- 
terday, to accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous terms 
which you propose. 

"I am, sir, your verv obedient servant, 

"S.'B. Buckner, Brig. Gen. C. S. A." 
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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

This magnificent victory gave the Union army nearly fif- 
teen thousand prisoners of war, one hundred and forty-six 
guns of the largest caliber, with a fort of great strength. As 
Dr. Eddy says: "It broke the Hne of rebel defence; com- 
pelled the evacuation of Columbus and placed Nashville at 
the mercy of Federal bayonets. Grant and Foote desired 
immediately to move upon its works, but General Halleck 
refused permission. As the telegraph flashed the news of 
the surrender the country was wild with excitement. Bells 
rang, bonfires blazed, strong men embraced each other on 
the streets and wept and shouted." 

From a Southern standpoint John A. Wyeth, M. D., in a 
magazine article of February, 1899, said : "The struggle at 
Fort Donelson was the first decisive battle of the Civil War. 
In many respects it proved to be the most important engage- 
ment between the contending armies of the North and the 
South. There were to follow many more desperate en- 
counters where greater numbers were engaged and the 
slaughter more fearful. But in all probability the careful 
historian will yet decide that in shaping events which step 
by step wrought the downfall of the Southern coalition, 
Fort Donelson stands preeminent. It was a blow which 
staggered the Confederacy, and from which it is safe to say 
it never wholly recovered. A disaster that led into captiv- 
ity thousands of its best and bravest men and thus early in 
the contest weakened the morale of one of its armies in 
teaching it the bitter lesson of defeat." 

Dr. Eddy in speaking of W. H. L. Wallace's brigade 
says : "The Second Brigade of the First Division was com- 
manded by Colonel W. H. L. Wallace, a gentleman, a brave 
man, a noble leader. * * * * Again and again was this 
brigade in whole or in part in the deadly fray, and nobly 
was upborne the dignity and glory of the State." 

Captain I. P. Rumsey of Taylor's Battery and Assistant 
Adjutant General on General Wallace's staff and now an 
honored resident of Chicago, in speaking of General Wal- 
lace and Donelson, says : "At Donelson — that terrible night 
— as we were stationed there in front of the rebels, nocice 
came from the picket to General Wallace that there was a 
good deal of motion and noise in our front, and that the 

[159] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

enemy were probably moving out from their works. Gen- 
eral Wallace and I were lying in a tent when the report was 
brought. He instructed me to order the brigade into line, 
remarking, 'It is too bad to turn the boys out of their 
blankets.' It was a terrible night, with its sleet and its 
snow. 

"Nothing, however, developed in our front, and after 
one hour I again passed along the line with orders to lie 
down. On the next day as McArthur's brigade was broken, 
and Oglesby's brigade was falling back, the rebel bullets be- 
gan to come along between us and our troops, paralleling 
our line, showing they were working around in our rear ; I 
made the remark, 'they are flanking us and will get around 
in our rear." General Wallace was a man of few words 
and made no immediate reply, but presently said, 'Rumsey, 
you go to McClernand, tell him McArthur has broken, 
Oglesby is breaking and it is necessary to withdraw and 
change our front, and form a new line to the left and rear.' 

"I found McClernand and repeated what the General had 
told me, that it was necessary to withdraw and change our 
front, and try to hold the enemy while Generals Oglesby 
and McArthur rallied. He said, 'Tell General Wallace if it 
is absolutely necessary, to withdraw and form the new line.' 
General Wallace then gave me the order to move the troops 
by the left flank and form the new line changing front to 
the right. I did so, and he immediately started for the right, 
where Colonel Ranson with the Eleventh Illinois was fight- 
ing hand to hand with the rebels. 

"He then sent Davis of his staff with word to Lew Wal- 
lace, who was lying to the left and rear with fresh troops, 
that had not been engaged at all. Captain Davis finding 
General Lew Wallace, gave him General W. H. L. Wal- 
lace's message to which Lew Wallace replied, *I would be 
glad to see Wallace and any suggestion he has to make will 
be gladly received and acted upon.' Receiving this answer 
W. H. L. Wallace rode rapidly to Lew Wallace — ignoring 
General McClernard. his Division Commander — and point- 
ing out the situation suggested what seemed to him neces- 
sarv to save McClernand's Division and perhaps the day; 
which was that he. Lew Wallace, should bring his fresh 

[160] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

troops to our front and hold the rebels while we replen- 
ished ammunition and General Oglesby and McArthur ral- 
lied. 

"Forward they came, filed into the right, about twenty- 
five yards in front of our brigade, also one section of Bat- 
tery A, which Colonel Taylor placed on the left of Battery 
B ; they had no sooner unlimbered than the rebels reached 
our lines and the leaden hail flew wickedly but found more 
ready ammunition than they expected. This suggestion of 
General W. H. L. Wallace and acted upon by General Lew 
Wallace so promptly was the means of saving great disaster 
and the escape of the rebel army down the river that night. 
All of which is due to General W. H. L. Wallace's prompt 
action, even without orders, but realizing the situation and 
that with proper action the right could be saved and the 
enemy held, he acted and accomplished what was the means 
of compelling their surrender on the next morning." 

In General Lew Wallace's account of the battle of Don- 
elson given in his autobiography he speaks of this interview 
with General W. H. L. Wallace as follows: "I saw, finally, 
an officer riding slowly toward me, one leg thrown over the 
horn of his saddle, and four or five hundred men with a 
flag behind him. I galloped to meet him. 

"Good morning', I said, 'May I ask who you are?' 

"My name is Wallace,' he returned, stopping. 

"Oh, you are Colonel W. H. L. Wallace. Well my name 
is Wallace.' 

"Lew Wallace, of the Eleventh Indiana?' 

"The same. 

"We shook hands, he saying: 'Our names and the num- 
ber of our regiments — mine the Eleventh Illinois — have 
been the cause of great profanity in the post-office.' 

"Mixture of letters, I suppose?' 'Yes.' 

"I noted him hurriedly, a man above medium height, 
florid in face, wearing a stubby, reddish beard, with eyes of 
a bluish cast and a countenance grave and attractive. 

" 'I take it. Colonel, you are getting out of a tight place.' 
" 'Yes, we are out of ammunition.' 'That's bad,' said I, 'But 
I can help you. Down the road by the big tent, which is 
mine, and at your service, you will find two wagons. They, 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

too, are mine and loaded with ammunition. Help yourself, 
and tell McClernand to do the same !' 

" 'Thank you, I will do it.' His men were halted ; facing 
them, he called out in a cheerful voice, 'Forward!' *A 
moment, Colonel,' I said, 'Are the enemy following you?' 
'Yes,' 'How far are they behind?' Just then the head of my 
column hove in view. The Colonel saw it. 'Are those 
yours?' 'Yes.' 'Well' — his face took on an expression of 
calculation, — 'you will about have time to form a line of 
battle here.' 'Is that so? Then please give my men room 
to come — and good-by. Colonel, I'll see you again.' 

"We shook hands and parted. A word from one so cool 
and thoughtful as Colonel W. H. L. Wallace was enough. 
The moment called for action. I am sorry to say I never 
met him again. His light went out at Shiloh." 

An Ottawa paper of February, 1862, says: "W. H. L. 
Wallace's brigade bore the severest charge of the enemy 
and to him, his officers, and men under command eye wit- 
nesses give the credit of doing most to stay the desperate 
onslaught made by the rebels to break through the lines." 

Captain Rumsey continues: "Sunday morning we ex- 
pected a general charge, but report came that the enemy 
had surrendered. General Wallace ordered me to form the 
brigade and move it forward down the road toward the 
enemy's lines while he went forward to satisfy himself as to 
the truth of the report. When I met him at the enemy's 
works he said, 'Rumsey, it is true ; their arms are stacked 
and they stand behind them', and the look on his face 
showed a feeling far deeper than words could express ; sel- 
dom have I seen a more expressive face than his. 

"At the head of our brigade General W. H. L. Wallace 
moved through the works, and on toward the river fort, 
when several staff officers were sent to him trying to halt 
him ; one with great assurance and pomp rode up in great 
haste, and saluting, stated that he was from General Smith, 
who ordered him to halt his brigade; General Wallace 
moved on with great dignity, remarking to the officer, 'Gen- 
eral Smith is not my commander' and to me he said, 'I am 

[162] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

going to the fort; I commenced this battle, and it is my 
right.' 

"And he did go and took Battery B with him to fire the 
salute from the high and strong river fort, when the gun- 
boats came steaming up the river firing their salute. And 
he said to me as we sat on our horses, his face glowing with 
satisfaction, 'Rumsey, this is glorious,' to which I replied, 
'Yes, General, but my heart aches as I think of the many 
comrades and true soldiers lying on the field who, forty- 
eight hours ago, were with us," to which he replied, 'Yes, 
but they died in a noble cause.' So all through that dread- 
ful three days' battle, he showed his tender and loyal soul." 

Chaplain B. H. Pearson, of the Eleventh Regiment, writ- 
in to the Christian Times from the battlefield of Donelson, 
said: 

"Messrs. Editors: — I take this opportunity to inform 
my friends of what my eyes have seen, and my ears have 
heard, and my heart has felt, in the few days just passed. 
I have realized all that I ever could imagine could be on the 
field of battle. I now know, what I have believed, that our 
men love the old flag, and would rather die around it than 
see it dishonored. Could you have been with us on the day 
of the recent great battle at this place, you would say. 'Can 
it be possible that this long extended line of men have no 
love of life, no fear of death? How firm they stand, while 
the leaden hail is flying like snow-flakes all around them !' 

"I was with the surgeon and music of the Eleventh a 
few paces in the rear of the regiment where I could see our 
whole line, with the .Twentieth and Thirty-first. The lat- 
ter was the left wing of the First Brigade. The Eleventh 
was the right wing of the Second Brigade under command 
of W. H. L. Wallace. I have always thought the Colonel 
was a cool man ; but could you have seen him that morning, 
on his black steed, moving from one point to another, direct- 
ing the conflict as composedly as if on dress-parade, watch- 
ing every movement, you would have said that prayer from 
some pure heart had been answered on his behalf. We all 
love him, and believe that God owned him and protected 

[163] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

him that day. And he was not only one — Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Ransom and Major Nevius, though younger in years, 
exhibited skill in the art of war equaled by few. In a word, 
I may say that the officers and soldiers of the Eleventh sur- 
passed the most sanguine expectations of their most ardent 
admirers." 

In a letter soon afterwards Mrs. Wallace writes to her 
husband : "I hope good Colonel Ransom and Cyrus are bet- 
ter. Tell them I am thinking of them and I think it is more 
honor to be one of the 'Eleventh' after the battle of Donel- 
son than to be General McClellan himself. All Ottawa and 
all Illinois are proud of you all. * * * I should judge by 
the papers that you are to really be made a Brigadier-Gener- 
al. I am glad that you are to have the rank as well as the 
work of the office. I think you deserve the honor. I want 
Colonel Ransom to be promoted, too. Mr. Earl said this 
morning he would not be content until you were made a 
Major-General." 

Colonel Wallace writes his wife the day after the battle: 

"Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb. 17, 1862. 

"This has been a day full of sad offices, collecting and 
caring for the wounded, burying the dead and doing all that 
could be done to allay the distress of those who suffered in 
the terrible fight. * * * * 

"I will not attempt to give you any details of the terrible 
conflict through which we have passed. The papers will 
fully advise you of that. It was the greatest battle ever 
fought on this continent. I hope the fruits of the victory 
may be the speedy restoration of peace. Our victory, great 
as it is, and great as I hope it will be in results, has been 
dearly bought. The Eleventh suffered terribly, much more 
than any regiment engaged. We buried on the battlefield 
to-day sixty-eight belonging to the Eleventh. ***** 

"The colors of the regiment are riddled with shot and the 
staff was struck twice with bullets, breaking off the spear at 
the top. The Color-Sergeant, McCaleb, was shot down and 
Color-Corporal Armstrong of Co. H seized it and bore it 

[164] 




FLAG OF THE| ELEVENTH ILLLNOLS INFANTRY HEGLMENT, 
NOW IN THE LIBRAUY AT THE OAKS 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

from the field. Tell Helen Fisher that the pledge I made 
to her when she in behalf of the Ottawa ladies presented 
the flag to Co. L has been redeemed. The Eleventh lost 
nearly everything but their flag and their honor. It was the 
first flag planted on the inner fortification of Fort Donel- 
son. 

"The scenes here yesterday and to-day have been the 
saddest and strangest ever seen on this continent. The 
prisoners amounting to nine or ten thousand or perhaps 
more have been marched in long lines from their camps to 
the landing to be sent to Cairo. They are a strange and 
motley crowd, but they shoot terribly sharply. * * * * 

"Dear wife, God has indeed heard your prayer and that 
of our little innocent. I little expected when amid the fierce 
storm of lead and iron that beat around me for hours, 
striking down my men by hundreds, that I should come off 
unscathed, but I never thought of the surrounding dangers 
without a mental prayer for mercy for myself and for you, 
darling." 

The flag of the Eleventh which had been given by the 
ladies of Ottawa, a beautiful large silk one and made by 
them, to Co. L and taken as the regimental flag, was used 
after the battle of Donelson at the burial of sixty-eight 
men in one grave. It was there presented to Colonel Wal- 
lace as a personal gift, which he sent home to his wife to be 
cared for by her. She considered it as one of her most 
valued possessions. It is now in the library at "The Oaks" 
— General Wallace's late home. i 

Mrs. Wallace speaks in her letters about the feeling in 
Ottawa towards the flag. 

"The Oaks, Ottawa, March 6, 1862. 

***** "Helen Fisher says to tell you that all the 
Ottawa ladies were proud of the honor bestowed on that 
flag. I am told there has been a large subscription taken up 
in town to get the Eleventh a new flag — one to be pur- 
chased in Chicago, worth ninety dollars." 

In another letter she says : "I will take good care of the 
precious old flag. It on account of its brave defenders is 
almost worshiped by the Ottawa people." 

[165] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

On March 12th she writes : 

"The old flag of the Eleventh stands against the arch in 
the dining room and is an object of great interest to all; it 
is touched with a feeling akin to awe. The new banner that 
Cyrus is to take stood side by side with the old one and to- 
day many times the hope has been expressed that its honor 
might be preserved without the fearful cost of life of the 
old one. * * * * fhe new flag is a beautiful blue silk 
one, but not the Stars and Stripes. I suppose it is all right, 
but it was not what I expected. There is to be some speech, 
making over it. The old flag was taken down to exhibit 
with the new one. The promise was made me that no harm 
should come to my charge — the precious old flag, and I am 
to have it again as soon as the ceremony is over." 

Her brothers, Cyrus and Charlie, were home for a few 
days on leave. She writes her husband on March 21st: "I 
have laid in a new stock of courage these few happy days — 
I cannot be in contact with the spirit of glorious self devo- 
tion that seems to inspire my soldier brothers without 
catching a part of the inspiration that sustains them." 

The following letter from General Wallace to his wife is 
a relaxation from the tension of battle, but is interesting as 
showing other sides of army life at the front : 

"Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb. 20, 1862. 
"It is eleven o'clock at night. I have just returned from 
a trip up the river to Clarksville. Generals Grant and Mc- 
Clernand with several of their stafif went up and I took two 
companies of my brigade (Co. D. of the Eleventh and a 
company from the Twentieth) with the band of the 
Eleventh. It was a pleasant trip and a great relief from 
the constant and heavy cares incident to our dearly bought 
victory. Clarksville is a beautiful village or town of five or 
six thousand inhabitants on the north side of the Cumber- 
land, forty miles above this and within sixty miles of Nash- 
ville. We marched through the streets, but met no welcome 
except from the negroes. Most of the white inhabitants 
have left. One house, where there were pleasant looking 
ladies at the door, had the British flag hung out. 

[166] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"On the way up we met one of our gunboats with Flag- 
officers Foote on board. I went aboard his boat with the 
Generals. The Commodore met us on crutches. He was 
slightly wounded at the bombardment of Fort Donelson. 
He inquired about you and I gave him your congratulations 
on his success at Fort Henry. He wished to be remem- 
bered. ***** 

"When you write your Cousin Rose in Kentucky tell her 
that I had the pleasure of seeing Colonel Roger Hanson of 
Paris, Kentucky, a prisoner. He is a rank traitor of the 
Buckner school — the worst possible kind. 

"I have not completed my official report of the battle. 
The list of killed and wounded is fearful. It will reach six 
hundred in my brigade alone. The Eleventh lost seventy- 
five killed and two hundred wounded and several missing 
I felt indeed when looking at the fragment of the regiment 
with its tattered banner like Napoleon did after one of his 
disastrous battles, that 'all was lost but honor.* I do not 
underrate the importance of the victory. I think it is the 
death blow of the rebellion if rapidly and judiciously fol- 
lowed up — but I cannot but feel when I look at my own 
regiment, whose long front I have so often looked upon with 
pride, now shortened of more than half its length, that it is 
a dearly bought victory. May the sacrifice we have laid 
upon the altar of our country be acceptable to the God of 
battles and of Nations and may Hei smile in mercy and 
peace upon us in the speedy restoration of our old loved 
Union." 



[167] 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Congratulatory Correspondence. The Troops Move 
UP THE Tennessee River to Savannah. 



T 



HE fellow townsmen of Colonel Wallace and Colonel 
Dickey sent the following letter of congratulation to 
them over their achievements at Fort Donelson : 



"Ottawa, Feb. 22, 1862. 
"To Col. William H. L. Wallace, Eleventh Illinois. 

"Acting Brig. General : and 
"To Col. T. Lyle Dickey, Fourth Illinois Cavalry. 

"Sirs: — On Monday morning last the gratifying intelli- 
gence of the capture of Fort Donelson was flashed to us 
along the wires. As you well imagine, so important and 
pregnant an event threw our citizens into the wildest ex- 
citement, and men soon gave themselves up to mutual con- 
gratulations, rejoicings and thanks to the brave men by 
whom it was accomplished. 

"All seemed to regard this crowning victory as a sure 
guaranty of an enduring Union. 

"Our rejoicings were dampened, it is true, by intelligence 
of the loss of many brave men who have fallen in the con- 
test, conspicuous among whom was Lieutenant-Colonel Er- 
win, whose remains were deposited in their last resting place 
here on yesterday with appropriate funeral ceremonies. 

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. 

"We embrace this earliest opportunity of congratulating 
you and the gallant soldiers of your respective commands, 
upon the late brilliant achievements in which you and they 
have well acted so conspicuous a part. 

"Rest assured that in our rejoicings to-day the soldierly 
deeds of our Illinois Volunteers are remembered, and our 
prayers shall be offered, that on other fields they may 
gather new honors, and when the contest shall be ended 
(as end it must) in 'unconditional surrender' to the Old 
Honored Flag of the Union, you may all return to your 

[168] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

homes to receive from numberless friends the welcome due 
the soldier, who has fully answered his country's call. 

"With emotions of pride, we subscribe ourselves, your 
fellow citizens and friends. 

S. W. Cheever. G. S. Stebbins. 

Wm. Reddick. J. V. A. Hoes. 

H. F. Eames. H. M. Swift. 

Wm. Osman. J. D. Caton. 

T. Hampton. L. Leland. 

D. Walker. W. E. Hollister. 
O. C. Gray. W. Bushnell. 

E. L. Waterman. A. W. Cavalry. 
J. O. Glover. J. Avery. 

P. K. Leland. A. B. Moore. 

E. C. Henshaw. J. F. Nash." 

J. C. Champlin. 

In answer to this letter Colonel Wallace writes : 

"Savannah, Tenn., March 18, 1862. 
"J. V. A. Hoes, H. M. Swift, and others. Ottawa. 

"Gentlemen : — Your letter of the 22d ult., addressed to 
myself and Col. Dickey, congratulatory of the victory at 
Fort Donelson, is just received. If there is anything more 
gratifying then the consciousness of having fulfilled a duty, 
it is the commendation of those to whom we are best 
known, and whose good opinion we prize. I thank you 
sincerely for your timely remembrance of this fact, and the 
graceful and patriotic manner in which you have conveyed 
your congratulations. 

"Illinois indeed has reason to be proud of her soldiers. 
In every field in which they have had an opportunity they 
have added new laurels to those the State already bore; 
and when the Union is again perfect, and the old, honored 
flag again hailed as the national ensign from the shores of 
New England to the banks of the Rio Grande, and from the 
Falls of St. Anthony to the capes of Florida, the part that 
Illinois has borne in the sacred work will be just matter of 
pride to every loyal citizen in the state. 

"Hoping that the consummation we all so devoutly wish 

[169] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

for may soon come and that we in the field may return to 
receive those thanks you promise, I remain, 

"Very respectfully, 

"Your friend, 
"W. H. L. Wallace." 

Colonel Dickey also answers the letter. 

"In Camp, near Pittsburg, Tenn., March 27, 1862. 
"S. W. Cheever, J. V. A. Hoes and others : — 

"Gentlemen : — By reason of my absence from camp on 
account of illness brought on by exposure during the siege 
of Donelson, your kind letter (of the 22d of February ad- 
dressed to Colonel Wallace and myself) was not put into 
my hands until this day. I assure you the approving words 
of 'fellow citizens and friends' and their congratulations (to 
me and the brave men of my command upon the achieve- 
ment in which we bore an humble part), fell gratefully upon 
our hearts. 

"It did not fall to the lot of my command to take a very 
active part in the scenes of the heaviest fighting. Their 
principal service was rendered in leading the first advance 
upon the ground in forming our line of battle, and in fre- 
quent reconnoissances ; and on the afternoon of the last day 
of the fight it turned out that our presence upon a leading 
road in front of the enemy held him in check until our in- 
fantry reinforcements were brought up, before which the 
enemy at last retired within their trenches. 

"For the encouragement of my command in bold and 
gallant deeds, I will cause your very kind letter to be read 
at the head of the regiment. Hoping that the old honored 
flag of the Union may soon wave triumphant over every 
foot of our whole land, and that God in his mercy will unite 
the hearts of all our people in fraternal affection, I remain 
very respectfully, your fellow citizen and friend, 

"T. Lyle Dickey." 

Colonel Wallace writing to his wife tells of an interest- 
ing trip to Nashville and conditions there as the result of 
the victory at Donelson. 

[170] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"Fort Donelson, Feb. 28, 1862. 

"I have just returned from Nashville. I went up on the 
;Steamer W. H. B. with Generals Grant and McClernand 
'and staffs, Colonel Lauman of the Seventh Iowa, Captain 
Taylor of Chicago and others. The weather was beautiful 
and the trip a very pleasant one. We found Nashville a 
most beautiful city with a magnificent capitol building and, 
better than all, the old flag waving over it. The city had 
been occupied two days before by a part of General Buell's 
army, the last of the 'secesh' army moving out as our troops 
came in sight. There were unfinished fortifications below 
the city, the guns were left standing. 

"Our victory here is a very great one. Bowling Green, 
Clarksville and Nashville, all strong places, have all been 
evacuated as the result of our success here at Donelson, and 
it now seems probable that Columbus will fall from the ef- 
fects of the same blow. Te Dcum laudamus. Let the peo- 
ple praise Him. 

"At Nashville I found some eighty-five of our wounded 
soldiers who had been taken prisoners and carried away by 
the enemy. Among them were about forty belonging to the 
Eleventh. It would have done you good to see the poor 
fellows' faces brighten when they saw me. Scarce one of 
them but shed tears when I shook hands with them. I 
found them comfortably quartered and well cared for, al- 
though some of them were suffering for want of surgical 
attention to their wounds. Few of them are dangerously 
wounded and they all agree that they received kind treat- 
ment from the enemy. I made arrangements for medical 
and surgical attendance at once. ****** 

"In company with General McClernand I called on Mrs. 
Polk, the widow of President Polk. She is "secesh," but a 
very ladylike person. I plucked a daffodil from her garden 
and enclose it co you in this letter." 

An interesting letter is here given from General Wallace 
to his friend, Judge Champlin, who had written to him of 
the affairs agitating the public mind, and also refers to the 
wish for General Wallace to run for Congress when his 
other duties permitted. 

[171] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"Fort Donelson, Tenn., March 3, 1862. 
"Hon. J. C. Champlin, 
"Ottawa, III. 

"Dear Champ: — "I ought to have replied to your long 
letter long since, but a press of other duties has prevented — 
and now I am again under marching orders to leave at 
seven o'clock to-morrow morning for a point on the Tennes- 
see river seven miles below Fort Henry, so that I am in no 
condition to write an answer to your elaborate letter. Hav- 
ing a few moments leisure, however, I drop you a line for 
'Auld Lang Syne.' 

"You seem to be anticipating a state of facts which may 
soon arise, i. e., what to do with the rebels after we have 
conquered them. That same question seems to be troubling 
our secession friends just now. A few weeks ago, the as- 
sertion was — 'You can never subdue the South !' Now they 
ask — 'What are you going to do with us after you have con- 
quered us?' They are not conquered yet, though they have 
received some heavy blows lately. But they want to be 
more thoroughly and soundly whipped. They hate us suffi- 
ciently, but they do not fear us enough yet. They do not 
despise us as much as they did, but we must whip them 
harder before they will have a decent respect for us. When 
we have once more convinced them that we can whip them, 
we may then live on friendly terms with them, but never 
till then. If the successes of the last few weeks are vigor- 
ously followed up, we will soon reach a point where peace 
is possible, but if we falter here, or hesitate even, all that 
has been gained by the recent victories will soon be lost. I 
trust in God that the men at the helm will push things vigor- 
ously to the desired consummation. 

"Among the many projects for disposing of the traitors 
and punishing the treason that have been broached, yours is 
perhaps as perfect as any. It may be open to the objection 
that it is too complicated, but this is a complex business and 
much machinery may be necessary to work it off success- 
fully. The project of instituting territorial governments for 
the rebel States as fast as they are conquered is open to the 
objection that such governments would be required to be 

[172] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

supported by armed force forever. Perhaps however, that 
would not be the case if the people were thoroughly sub- 
dued now. A few such damaging blows as this at Fort 
Donelson would bring the mass of the people to submit to 
almost any government that gave them security and pro- 
tected their property. I do not find in the masses here any 
lingering memory or a love for the old flag and the old 
Government. In fact the present generation has been 
reared in hatred to the government, and I think no reliance 
can be placed on any supposed suppressed Union feelings 
here. Nothing but the stern iron rule of the strongest can 
ever give anything like security. It is bound to be a 'Union 
pinned together with bayonets.' The picture is gloomy 
enough, but it is too truthful. 

"But enough of this — how are you all getting along? 
How is Bush and Gray and Lindley and the boys generally ? 
Didn't we whip them gloriously here? Beat 'em on their 
own ground — hunted them to their holes — whipped 'em be- 
hind their entrenchments — 22,000 of them protected by 
earthworks and cannon, whipped out of their own trenches 
by less than 30,000 outsiders. No wonder the scare ex- 
tended all over the South and sent the army of Bowling 
Green rushing back through Nashville, and never halting 
until it got into the Gulf states. Another blow or two like 
this will destroy their reliance on their boasted chivalry. 

"You ask me to give you a programme. I have none. I 
am, as you know, no politician, and what's more, I haven't 
any politics, except to restore the old order of things as 
speedily and effectually as possible. If in the course of the 
next two or three months the necessity of active military 
operations is gone and I can rightly return home, I think 
I shall enjoy above all things staying there. Never have I 
known such a longing for the peace and quietness of home. 
If then it should be deemed proper and right that I should 
go to Congress and nobody would be hurt by my so doing, 
why I would go, but I think I never shall enter into the in- 
trigues and double dealing which has been necessary for 
political success. The game isn't worth the candle. 

"Give my regards to all our mutual friends. Write me 

[173] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

when you have leisure and feel inclined. I agree with you 
perfectly as to Bush.* He has brains and what is a rarer 
and higher virtue, he is reliable. Give him my very best re- 
gards. "Yours truly, 

"W. H. L. Wallace." 

The larger part of the Western Army embarked on 
transports and went up the Tennessee river, and in less than 
a month occurred the great battle of Pittsburg Landing. 
Colonel Wallace writes his wife of the movement of the 
troops. 

"Steamer Belle Memphis, Tenn., River, 
"5 Miles above Ft. Henry, March 8, 1862. 

"We were two days getting here from Donelson, a very 
rough, disagreable march. Here the Eleventh and Twentieth 
regiments embarked on this boat and have been lying here 
ever since. My whole brigade is embarked, the Forty-fifth 
on the /. H. Dickey, the Forty-eighth on the Henry Chat- 
eau, Taylor's battery on the Silver Moon, three companies 
of the Fourth Cavalry on T. L. Magill and two other com- 
panies of the Fourth on the Aleck Scott. Colonel Ross's 
brigade is also embarked and Colonel Oglesby's brigade is 
expected here to-night or to-morrow. Generals Hurlbut's, 
Smith's and Wallace's divisions will also embark here, all 
bound up the Tennessee river. 

"I have been quite ill for two or three days. A bilious 
attack coupled with lumbago induced by the severe expos- 
ure of the last two months. I am getting better, however. 
The weather is becoming more pleasant and I hope a day or 
two will restore me completely. The prospect is now that 
we will be aboard of the boats for two or three days yet 
and by that time I hope to be able to stand the exposure. I 
pray God for strength and wisdom to enable me to do my 
whole duty toward the country in this her hour of peril. I 
shall endeavor to discharge that duty with a firm reliance 
on God's all wise providence, that it will result in good in 
carrying out His Sovereign will. 

*Washington Bushnell was a prominent lawyer of Ottawa, a 
member of the Legislature, State's Attorney and the first Attorney 
General of the State of Illinois. 

[174] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 



"I learn unofficially that I am to be a Brigadier. I do not 
feel like exulting. I know the added responsibility of the 
position and pray for strength to fill it. I feel the need of 
Divine aid more than I ever have done, and feel a more 
living active faith in God's protection than ever. Pray for 
me * * * * I feel that your prayers can aid me when 
most I need aid. I know your fervent piety and appreciate 
the fulness and purity of your love for me and our cause." 
In a letter of March 20th, he writes again : 
"It is eleven months since I left home. In that time I 
have spent six or seven days at home. I have felt the de- 
privation much as you have. It has shown me, however, 
some lovely phases in your character that I might otherwise 
never have known. May the Good God in whom we trust 
so overrule events that this unhappy war may soon be hon- 
orably and rightly ended and we be permitted again to en- 
joy the pleasure of our home together. In His hands are 
the issues of life and death. He raises up and puts down 
nations, and however individuals may be disposed of I feel 
an abiding faith that the end will be the furtherance of His 
zvill on earth. Our Father who art in Heaven will take 
care of His children and do with them whatever is best." 

After the transports arrived at their destination on the 
Tennessee river Colonel Wallace writes of their new sur- 
roundings to his wife : 

'Savannah, Tenn.. March 14, 1862. 
"You will wonder where I am when you look at the 
heading of this letter. Take a map of the United States 
and follow up the Tennessee river till you get within twenty 
miles of the Alabama line and there on the east side of the 
river you will see marked Savannah, the county seat of 
Hardin County. It is a quiet, sober looking old town, with 
a single street, a square brick court house, a number of 
buildings scattered along the street, with some pretty and 
rather stylish residences in the suburbs. There is a majori- 
ty of Union people here. Most of the people have remained 
at home and not run away like they did from Clarksville 
and other places on the Cumberland. 

[175] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"We got here two or three days ago and lay on the 
transports till yesterday, when Colonel Ross' brigade and 
mine landed and went into camp just back of the town. I 
have my headquarters in a house in the outskirts of the 
town. It is occupied by a young man named Seaman, with 
several blacks. He is a very civil, gentlemanly fellow and 
offered me his house and the use of his servants for myself 
and staff. * * * * \Ye hear a great many rumors 
here as you doubtless do at home, but I suppose the truth 
to be that the enemy are in force at Eastport or near there, 
which is twenty-five or thirty miles above here. Some of 
our forces have gone up the river and we may go soon, but 
that will depend on circumstances of course. General C. F. 
Smith is still in command of the expedition but I under- 
stand General Grant will be up in a few days to take com- 
mand. * * * * I do hope this wicked war is nearly 
over and that I may soon return to you. It is pleasant to 
receive the commendations of the public for services ren- 
dered, but I would more enjoy a kind word and loving 
caress from you than all the honors that military service 
could win." In a later letter he writes : "I want to see you 
and the dear ones at home, but I know you don't want to 
see me, if to do so I must leave my post here when I ought 
not to. I really hope I may see you consistently with duty 
before very long." 

On March 21st Colonel Wallace received his com- 
mission as Brigadier-General of Volunteers. But no 
sooner did he acquire one position than he was advanced to 
another, as was his fate in the Mexican war in lesser de- 
grees. On the following day after receiving his commission 
he writes to his wife, March 22d: "There will probably be 
some changes in our organization. General Grant to-day 
intimated that he intended to put me in command of a divi- 
sion. This may or may not be done. I should be gratified 
on some accounts and sorry for it on others. * * * * 
In any event I shall strive to do my duty relying on Our 
Father for strength, courage and wisdom to aid me. 

"When the changes are made I will advise you as to 
what my command is and under whose direct orders I act, 

[176] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

so that you may keep the run of things as they may appear 
in the newspapers." 

Mrs. Wallace writes from her home in Ottawa: — 

"March 21st. 
"Sometimes, Will, I can hardly restrain myself, I feel as 
if I must go to you, more so when I think of you sick. It 
seems wrong to enjoy every comfort of a good home and 
you sick in tents. Is it indeed my duty to stay so far back 
and wait so anxiously?" 

On March 24th she writes again in the same vein : "1 
am thinking earnestly of trying to go to you with Eaton. 
* * * * If he does not throw cold water on the project I 
will go with him." When she heard that her husband was 
likely to be put in command of a division she wrote : 

"Ottawa, March 28, 1862. 
"* * * * J 2im surprised to know of the chance of your 
commanding a division. I know, dearest, you will honor 
the position as you always have those you have held hereto- 
fore." 

When Colonel Wallace received his commission as Brig- 
adier-General he asked his old friend, R. E. Goodell of 
Joliet, who had campaigned with him through the Mexican 
war and was a very close friend, to take a position on his 
staff. Mr. Goodell's business affairs were such that he 
could not accept. He writes General Wallace the following 
letter : 

"St. Louis, March 31, 1862. 
"Dear Wallace: 

"Your kind letter of the eighth came to hand yesterday. 
I regret exceedingly that my business matters are now in 
such a shape that I cannot accept the position you have so 
kindly tendered me. Although I have had several positions 
offered me in the army, none have so tempted me as the 
one you now offer, not so much the position as the associa- 
tion. Your command has many of my warm friends in it 

[177] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

and to think that I would be with you and Colonel Dickey 
again and renew in the same field the old ties which were 
made so strong there, and it seems to me grown stronger 
every day since ; it is really hard for me to decline. 

"When I met you at Fort Donelson I supposed our con- 
tract here would close in a short time, and had I not taken 
another before I had an intimation of your tendering me 
the appointment, I should have at once closed this one and 
joined you, but on my way home my partners insisted upon 
my going to Louisville and try to get the contract there for 
furnishing Buell's department with forage, which I succeed- 
ed in doing, and that ties me up close for some time. 

"I regret that your letter did not come to hand earlier. It 
was forwarded to me at Louisville, but I left before it ar- 
rived ; it was forwarded here and I did not get it until I re- 
turned here Saturday evening. I hope it has not put you to 
any inconvenience. 

"Allow me to congratulate you on your promotion. Your 
prophecy of the last summer was true. You said to me you 
would not receive a promotion until it was earned. No ap- 
pointment in our State has given more general satisfaction 
than yours. 

"You have undoubtedly noticed that the Congressional 
convention has separated our county (Will) from La Salle 
in Congressional apportionment. I am sorry they have. I 
met Judge Davis here yesterday, who says you are the man 
to run there, and you must do it, if the war ends so you can 
attend to it. He thinks there would be no question about 
your election. Swett will be elected in that district and I 
think Norton in ours. If possible, I shall visit you during 
the coming month. Truly your friend, 

"R. E. GOODELL." 



[178] 



CHAPTER XVII. 

General Wallace's Command Moves to Pittsburg Land- 
ing. Mrs. Wallace's Journey to Pittsburg 
Landing. 

ON March twenty-fourth, General Wallace with his 
command left Savannah for Pittsburg Landing, ten 
miles above on the Tennessee river. From there he 
writes his wife of his new camp surroundings. 

"In Camp Near Pittsburg, Tenn., March 25, 1862. 

"* * * * There is a large force here and the camp 
covers several miles in extent. General Sherman's division 
is the most advanced, ours next." * * * * Qn March 
twenty-seventh he writes : "This has been a most lovely 
day, like May or June, except that there are no leaves. 
The early wild-flowers are in bloom, but otherwise all is yet 
dead in the woods. I spent all the fore part of the day in 
my tent writing and attending to the thousand details that 
constantly require attention. I have my headquarters in 
tents in rear of my brigade. The brigade is encamped on a 
gentle ridge in front — that is, the four infantry regiments. 
Just in rear of them is a depression in which there is a 
stream of water in wet weather, and there is water enough 
now in it for the men. This side of the quarters is another 
gentle ridge on which is my headquarters in four tents — 
two Sibley tents, one for myself and one for the Adjutant's 
office. A Fremont tent to eat in and a common tent for the 
orderlies. My military family consists of Captain Hotch- 
kiss, Assistant Adjutant-General, Lieutenant Davis ; Quar- 
termaster, Lieutenant Rumsey ; Aide-de-camp, Beckwith ; 
Secretary, Church ; Brigade Postmaster and Chief of Order- 
lies, a sergeant and five men from the Fourth cavalry for 
orderlies; Jim, the cook; Hartley (body servant), and Ned, 
the Irishman who takes care of my horses. 

"To the left of headquarters and nearby is Taylor's bat- 
tery, and immediately in the rear is Colonel McCullough's 

[179] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

camp with five companies of the Fourth cavalry. My bri- 
gade is in the center of the division, Colonel Oglesby's be- 
ing on my right and Colonel Ross' on my left. It is the 
prettiest camping ground we have had since we have been 
in the service and we are improving this fine weather in 
drilling and fitting the men for service." 

General Wallace writes his wife on April third of his 
being placed in command of a division. 

"Pittsburg, Tenn., April 3, 1862. 
"* * * * J have just been ordered to assume com- 
mand of General Smith's division, he being sick — I suppose 
this is merely temporary, but it may be otherwise. The di- 
vision consists of fourteen regiments of infantry, four bat- 
teries and two battalions of cavalry. It is a compliment to 
be placed in such a command, though I feel a good deal of 
embarrassment in attempting to fill the place of such a man 
as General Smith. * * * * i have not sought the 
place and am disinclined to take it, but I suppose there is 
no help for it. I assume my new command to-morrow. I 
take with me my staff. Captains Hotchkiss and Davis and 
Lieutenant Rumsey. Cyrus is going on my staff as soon as 
he can be spared from the Eleventh. No sight on earth 
would afford me more pleasure than that of your face, but 
I feel that I must not now expect that pleasure and if you 
were here I should feel that every moment devoted to you 
was stolen from my duty. * * * * You must not 
think of coming here. We are in camp, very busy with 
preparations to leave and liable to be ordered off at any 
hour." 

Mrs. Wallace's young brother, Charlie, writes from 
Pittsburg Landing; he was in his father's (Colonel Dick- 
ey's) Fourth cavalry regiment: 

"Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 4, 1862. 
"I have been here just about a week and am now with 
Major Bowman's battalion bugling for him. It keeps me 
pretty busy, as there is no bugler to relieve me, and I have 

[180] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

to be on the lookout all the time for fear of playing a call 
out of time. The weather is rather uncomfortable warm in 
the daytime, but the nights are delicious, just cool enough 
to sleep well. * * * * j^ must be very healthy here, 
for the sick boys are all getting well and the doctors have 
scarcely anything to do. Nothing of interest is going on ex- 
cept reviews. This battalion has been reviewed three times 
in the last three days, and to-day Major Wallace's battalion 
is going through the same. It is very tiresome and seems 
to me to be useless. * * * * There seems to be move- 
ments of troops going on up the river, Buell's troops I be- 
lieve, but everything is kept secret and of course, nothing 
is certain. 

"There will be a fight very soon and not far from Cor- 
inth, I expect." 

The day before the battle of Shiloh, General Wallace 
writes to his wife: 

"Pittsburg Landing, April 5, 1862. 

'<**** J have assumed command of General 
Smith's division during his illness. It is a great responsi- 
bility and does not set easy on me yet. Last evening there 
was a skirmish in front of General Sherman's division, a 
few wounded and a few prisoners taken. It caused a good 
deal of excitement in camp. The long roll was beaten and 
several divisions formed in line. I had my division ready, 
but did not turn out. The night was dark and rainy, and 
about 11 o'clock I rode out three miles to General Sher- 
man's quarters with Colonel McPherson of General Hal- 
leck's staff. We found everything quiet and the General 
in fine spirits. He had driven the enemy back some three 
or four miles when his advance came onto their battery. 
He lost no men killed, three or four wounded, and ten taken 
prisoners or missing. He killed several of the enemy, 
wounded a good many and took some ten or twelve pris- 
oners. All is quiet this morning. 

"There has been a re-assignment of cavalry and artillery 
— eight companies of the Fourth cavalry are attached to 
General Sherman's division, and I suppose your Pa will 
have command of them. Three companies of the First bat- 

[181] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

talion remain in General McClernand's division. Martin 
(Major Wallace) will be with General Sherman. Taylor's 
battery is also assigned to General Sherman's division. I 
feel very bad at leaving my old brigade, and especially the 
Eleventh. It seems like breaking up of a family. But I 
suppose the good of the service requires it, at all events, it 
is ordered, and that is law. 

"* * * * j|. |g ygj-y bright and warm to-day after 
the rain and storm of last night. Vegetation is coming for- 
ward very rapidly. The leaves on the trees are forming, 
but not yet fully developed. I suppose it is a great ways 
ahead of things at home in that regard. I wish I could see 
that pleasant home for a while, but I must not think of it 
now. I trust in God that it may not be long ere we are 
again united in that quiet, pleasant home, sanctified by your 
love and to which I turn constantly as the place of all others 
on earth the most desirable." 

While this letter was being penned General Wallace's 
wife was but a day's distance from his camp, speeding up 
the Tennessee river as fast as steam could bring her. But 
how she came to be there will be told in her own words, 
written at the request of a friend many years after the 
events noted : 

"After the battle of Donelson my husband was miserable 
and ill from the care, exposure and fatigue of that four 
days' battle, unprotected in inclement weather, and confined 
to the bed some days. He soon got out and able for duty, 
but headache and lumbago hung around him. I heard of 
his indisposition both from his letters and from those of 
other relatives. His absence and danger was a constant 
source of trial to me all the time, and for the first time ill 
health was added — I could scarcely bear it. In answer to 
my often expressed wish to spend my time in camp at Bird's 
Point, he had often said that had he not been in command 
he would have had me there as often as he could, but at 
times the efficiency of the service was hindered by che pres- 
ence of the families of the officers, and he could not forbid 
their presence if he had his own wife in camp. So only on 
rare and exceptional occasions when he was detailed for 

[182] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

court martial or something like that, I was telegraphed for 
and met him and made a trip with him to Springfield or St. 
Louis. 

"My regard for him and pride in him inspired me to be 
a brave soldier's zvife and endure cheerfully. I had never 
gone to camp except when telegraphed for. But when these 
continued sick days came, and quick communication was im- 
possible and the tone of my husband's letters showed weari- 
ness and depression, the feeling took possession of me that 
if I could go to him and spend a few hours with him that it 
would make a break in his mind-burden, and rest and re- 
lieve him. I knew he would not think it consistent with his 
duty to send for me, though I found it mine to go to him. 
Though he would be glad to see me he would blame me and 
think me babyish and probably send me home at once. 

"I wrote him I would come with Mr. R. E. Goodell (then 
furnishing supplies to the army), if I could. I wrote Mr. 
Goodell at Joliet that I wanted to go to the front with him, 
and received a telegram that starting that night I could join 
Elder Button, Chaplain of the Twentieth at Bloomington, 
who was going right to his regiment, then in my husband's 
brigade. My brother John, the only brother not in the 
army, who was a telegrapher, urged me not to go, said I 
was 'crazy' — *I never would get to the front, all civilians 
were turned back, etc' I argued that Mr. Goodell occu- 
pied such a position as contractor, that he would know what 
could probably be done, and would not have despatched to 
me if he did not think I could go. Nearly all my friends 
talked in the same way. 

"Judge Caton, my near neighbor, telegraphed to Cairo 
for me to see if I could pass. The answer came, 'none but 
soldiers were permitted to go up the Tennessee river !' But 
I determined to go anyway. General Strong, then in com- 
mand at Cairo, was a personal friend of Judge Caton and 
the Judge gave me a letter of introduction to him. 

"I had to take a night train to La Salle. When it was 
time to go to the depot, about midnight, there was a most 
fearful wind and rainstorm raging, so bad that the half- 
grown Irish boy said he could not drive ; so I sent off half a 
mile to the foreman of our farm, who came and drove 

[183] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

while the boy walked ahead of the horse with a lantern 
down the hill to the depot. 

"We were in an open buggy, but I was so covered with 
wraps that I did not get wet. When I arrived at the depot 
I felt triumphant, and thought if I could surmount such a 
storm, I certainly can any other difficulties that may ob- 
struct my path. At La Salle I had to wait some hours. 
Mr. Hardy, the hotel-keeper, I knew well, told me it was 
utterly useless for me to go. I could not get beyond Cairo, 
that every train brought back disappointed people who could 
go no further than Cairo. Regardless of these discouraging 
remarks, my faith in Mr. Goodell's judgment was unshaken, 
besides I intended if I could not pass the lines at once to 
remain at Cairo until there was an opportunity. 

"At Bloomington Elder Button came to me on the train 
and introduced himself. He had been home on sick leave 
after the exposure and exhaustion at Donelson. When I 
asked him questions about Mr. Goodell, he informed me that 
he was not at home, nor had been for a week, and that his 
wife had sent the telegram to me and signed it R. E. 
Goodell because he had a telegraph frank. Now indeed, I 
was discouraged. I would not have left home if I had 
known that Mr. Goodell had not advised it. But I could 
not turn back. 

"At Cairo Elder Button took a note from me with Judge 
Caton's note to General Strong's headquarters and came 
back in ten minutes with a permit to go up the river in a 
transport that was to start up next day loaded with Iowa 
regiments." 

Judge Caton's letter to General Strong. 

"Ottawa, Illinois, March 31, 1862. 
"Brigadier-General Strong. 
"DtAR Sir: 

"Allow me to commend to your kindest consideration 
Mrs. Wallace, the wife of Brigadier-General W. H. L. Wal- 
lace, who is my near neighbor and particular friend. Mrs. 
Wallace is on her way to join the General on the upper 
Tennessee. By affording to Mrs. Wallace every facility in 

[184] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

your power you will lay General Wallace and myself under 
very great obligations. 

"With great respect, I am yours truly, 

"J. D. Caton." 
To continue Mrs. Wallace's letter : 

"It seems General Strong himself was in St. Louis and 
his Adjutant said, 'I know General Strong would want to 
do anything he could that was requested by Judge Caton.' 
He thought a moment, then went to his desk and wrote the 
permit. As he handed it across the desk to Elder Button, 
he said : 'There is the permit, but I have gone beyond my 
orders.' 

"My idea is that the Adjutant knew that General Strong's 
wish would agree with the act and would not be severe to 
blame him; when if the General himself had been there his 
strict orders and responsible position would have prevented 
him from giving the pass. 

"At different points along the river officers came on 
board, and as they approached me evidently intended taking 
me ashore, but my permit was law to them and I was not 
molested. There was a kind woman nurse that belonged 
to Colonel Ross' regiment on board with sanitary supplies. 
There were also two regiments of Iowa volunteers. Belknap 
was the Adjutant of one of the regiments. He was kind, 
patriotic and brave, and I admired him, and was astonished 
and sorry when disgrace came to him in later years. I do 
not believe he was to blame. 

"These regiments had drilled some at Keokuk, but only 
received their muskets as they passed the St. Louis arsenal 
and had never even loaded them until they were marched 
right from that steamboat into the fire of the enemy at 
Shiloh; of course, panic was the result. Who blundered I 
do not know. 

"As we steamed along I was perfectly jubilant. I had 
indeed surmounted all difficulties and would soon see my 
husband ; yet I had a faint fear all the while that by some 
chance his orders might send him to Illinois and he would 
pass us and so I might miss him. I could not help feeling 
that I was going through a similar experience to Longfel- 

[185] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

low's 'Evangeline,' my surroundings were so strange and 
unusual. All the officers and soldiers were kind, courteous 
and attentive to me. At different times the boat turned into 
the shore and the soldiers landed and cooked up their ra- 
tions. Many of them brought me bunches of wild spring 
flowers, so that the ladies' cabin was glorious with them. 

"At midnight of April fifth, we touched at Savannah, 
where General Grant had his headquarters, ten miles before 
we reached Pittsburg Landing. My last letter from my 
husband had been written from Savannah, though I had 
heard from an officer that he had returned to Pittsburg 
Landing. I asked the officers who went ashore to report to 
inquire whether my husband was now at Savannah. Gen- 
eral Grant himself was up, and sent me word that my hus- 
band was with C. F. Smith's division and in command of 
it at Pittsburg Landing. 

"Some of General Grant's stafif were on board and I 
was careful to let them know that I had come without my 
husband's knowledge, fearing he might be blamed for my 
presence there. 

"We arrived before daylight at Pittsburg Landing. Cap- 
tain Coates of the Eleventh Illinois was on board, return- 
ing after a leave of absence. He proposed to walk with me 
to my husband's headquarters. We heard a great deal of 
firing, but it was accounted for as the return of the night 
pickets and the discharge of their guns. I had put on my 
hat and gloves when Captain Coates suggested that perhaps 
it would be better for him to first find out how far it was, 
and perhaps I had better ride, if very far. 

"So I remained on the boat. Before half an hour Cap- 
tain Coates came back wounded in two places, one painful 
wound in the hand, but neither of them dangerous. I also 
learned that a big battle was in progress and that my hus- 
band had moved with his command to the front, so it was 
not possible for me to reach him. The only thing then for 
me to do was to wait where I was, so that any of the dear 
ones on that field could, if they wished, communicate with 
me. 

"That long day on that steamboat, its scenes and sensa- 
tions are beyond any description. The wounded were 

[186] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

brought by hundreds onto the boat. Some could sit and 
stand about and talk, others helpless and pallid ; but all with- 
out exception heroic in their fortitude. I did not hear 
a groan or murmur except those unconscious under the in- 
fluence of chloroform or in sleep. I passed from place to 
place holding water and bandages for the surgeons until it 
became so crowded that I felt I was in the way and I went 
on the upper deck and sat there instead of in the cabin. 

"The steamer was used most of the day to transport some 
of Buell's men across the river. Over and back, over and 
back. The cabin floor was full of wounded, inside and out, 
by the guards laid close and in rows like bricks in a brick 
yard. The lower deck was used to transport the troops. 
Buell's men had to dig a road down to the river's edge to 
move cannon down to the boats, and the rebels threw shell 
and shot to stop them, and also shelled the transports. As 
I sat there I saw these shells strike the sides of other steam- 
boats and cut off limbs of trees near where the road was 
made, and pass buzzing across our deck. I felt dazed and 
horrified, yet enthused by some means, so I was not afraid. 
but felt like a soldier. I knew the danger, but felt lifted 
above fear of it. 

"The panic-stricken raw troops seemed perfectly insane. 
The steamer had to keep a slight distance from shore or it 
would have been swamped by the rush of soldiers. At one 
time an officer got aboard and ordered the pilot to touch 
shore and take his men on board. He threatened the pilot 
with his pistol. I sat near by, the only person on deck ex- 
cept the pilot and this officer. The pilot pretended to obey 
him, but really did not, thus giving the frenzied man time 
enough to come to his senses. As the shot and shell whizzed 
about I felt it would be safer below, but the feeling that 
exhibition of fear on my part would make it a little harder 
for that pilot to stand at his post kept me from going 
down." 

On that fatal field of Shiloh Mrs. Wallace had besides 
her husband, her father and two of her own brothers, and 
two of her husband's brothers, besides a number of more 
distant relatives. They all came safely through except her 
husband. 

[187] 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
Battle of Shiloh. 

THERE was no battle of the Civil War over which 
there has been so much written, with more discus- 
sion, and perhaps more criticism, than the terrific 
battle of Shiloh at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, beginning 
early in the morning of April sixth, lasting the entire day 
and the greater part of the following day. 

Major-General Halleck was in command of the Western 
armies, which at this time were composed of the army of 
the Ohio and the army of the Tennessee. For a short time 
Major-General C. F. Smith was the commander of the army 
of the Tennessee, but, owing to an accident to his knee, had 
to relinquish the command. On March seventh General U. 
S. Grant was reinstated in command of this army with 
headquarters at Savannah. General Halleck's orders were 
to destroy the railroad connection at Corinth, twenty miles 
away, where the Confederate army was in force, but to do 
nothing towards bringing on an engagement until the army 
of the Ohio should arrive under General Buell from Nash- 
ville. 

The army of the Tennessee commanded by Major-Gen- 
eral U. S. Grant was on the fifth of April composed of six 
divisions : 

The First commanded by Major-General John A. Mc- 
Clernand. 

The Second by Brigadier-General W. H. L. Wallace, 

The Third by Major-General Lew Wallace. 

The Fourth by Brigadier-General S. A. Hurlbut. 

The Fifth by Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman. 

The Sixth by Brigadier-General B. M. Prentiss. 

Of infantry, artillery and cavalry, officers and men con- 
centrated here at Pittsburg Landing and Crump's Landing 
there were over forty-seven thousand. The Confederates 
numbered about forty-four thousand men. 

Pittsburg Landing at the time of the battle was merely a 

[188] 





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AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF GENERAL Li:U WALLACE TO GENERAL W . H. 
L. WALLACE THE DAY BEF01{|'; I'm; RATTLE OF SHII/)H 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

landing for steamboats. From here a good road ran south- 
westerly to Corinth. The bluff rising from the river is 
about eighty feet; the ground on the bluff, and where the 
battle was fought, along the Corinth road, is about the same 
level, but is cut up on either side by deep ravines and water 
courses leading into Snake and Owl Creeks on the north, 
and Lick Creek on the south. Lick Creek empties into the 
Tennessee river about two miles above Pittsburg Landing, 
and Snake Creek about one mile below. These streams, 
therefore, formed an excellent protection against an attack 
upon either flank of an army encamped between them. The 
land near them was low and marshy and at this time of the 
year the creeks could not be crossed except by bridges. "In 
1862 this plateau was covered with forest with thick under- 
growth and an occasional clearing of a few acres surround- 
ing a farm house." * 

General W. H. L. Wallace's division was near the Land- 
ing; that of General Lew Wallace was beyond Snake 
Creek at Crump's Landing, six miles north of Pittsburg 
Landing. From Adamsville General Lew Wallace wrote 
the following letter to General W. H. L. Wallace dated 
the day before the battle. 

A copy of this letter of General Lew Wallace was sent 
to General Grant when writing his Memoirs, in reference 
to which he makes the following note in his book: 

"Since writing this chapter I have received from Mrs. 
W. H. L. Wallace, widow of the gallant General who was 
killed in the first day's fight on the field of Shiloh, a letter 
from General Lew Wallace to him, dated the morning of 
the fifth. At the date of this letter it was well known that 
the Confederates had troops out along the Mobile and Ohio 
railroad west of Crump's Landing and Pittsburg Landing, 
and were also collecting near Shiloh. This letter shows that 
at that time General Lew Wallace was making preparations 
for the emergency that might happen for the passing of re- 
inforcements between Shiloh and his position, extending 
from Crump's Landing westward, and he sends it over the 
road running from Adamsville to the Pittsburg Landing and 

* Major D. W. Reed, historian of BaUle of Shiloh compiled from 
official records. 

[189] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Purdy road. These two roads intersect nearly a mile west 
of the crossing of the latter over Owl Creek, where our 
right rested. In this letter General Lew Wallace advises 
General W. H. L. Wallace that he will send 'to-morrow' 
(and his letter also says 'April 5th,' which is the same day 
the letter was dated and which, therefore, must have been 
written on the 4th) some cavalry to report to him at his 
headquarters, and suggesting the propriety of General W. 
. H. L. Wallace's sending a company back with them for the 
purpose of having the cavalry at the two landings familiar- 
ize themselves with the road, so that they could 'act prompt- 
ly in case of emergency as guides to and from the different 
camps.' 

"This modifies very materially what I have said, and 
what has been said by others, of the conduct of General 
Lew Wallace at the battle of Shiloh. It shows that he 
naturally, with no more experience than he had at the time 
in the profession of arms, would take the particular road 
that he did start upon in the absence of orders to move by 
a different road. The mistake he made, and which prob- 
aly caused his apparent dilatoriness, was that of advancing 
some distance after he found that the firing, which would 
be at first directly to his front and then off to the left, had 
fallen back until it had got very much in rear of the position 
of his advance. This falling back had taken place before I 
sent General Wallace orders to move up to Pittsburg Land- 
ing, and, naturally, my order was to follow the road nearest 
the river. But my order was verbal, and to a staff officer 
who was to deliver it to General Wallace, so that I am not 
competent to say just what order the General actually re- 
ceived. 

"General Wallace's division was stationed, the First bri- 
gade at Crump's Landing, the Second out two miles, and 
the Third two and a half miles out. Hearing the sounds of 
battle General Wallace early ordered his First and Third 
brigades to concentrate on the Second. If the position of 
our front had not changed the road which Wallace took 
would have been somewhat shorter to our right than the 
river road. "U. S. Grant. 

"Mount MacGregor. New York, June 21, 1885." 
[190] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

On the afternoon before the battle Captain L P. Rumsey, 
aide on General W. H. L. Wallace's staff, with his brother, 
Lieutenant John W. Rumsey, rode out to reconnoitre, as he 
says: "We rode to the front of General Prentiss' division 
and were cautioned by the sentry not to ride farther to the 
front, as he was the outer guard. Calling his attention to the 
cavalry we could see in the woods beyond, he stated, 'They 
are not ours.' Farther along the line to the right, in look- 
ing across an open field where the day before the fresh ar- 
rivals of troops were being brigaded and drilled, we saw a 
small squad of cavalry apparently taking in the situation. 
We then rode to Sherman's division and called on my bat- 
tery, 'Taylor's,' which was camped near the Shiloh church, 
and told the boys what we had seen and that they might 
have a chance to use their guns without even hitching up. 

"Starting back we met Colonel T. Lyle Dickey of the 
Fourth cavalry and told him what we had seen. He asked 
me to tell General Sherman ; therefore, we rode to the Gen- 
eral's tent, dismounted and I told him what we had seen. 
'Yes,' he replied, 'they have been up on the right three. times 
and fired on McDowell, but I have positive orders from 
Grant to do nothing that will have a tendency to bring on 
a general engagement until Buell arrives.' And in his quick, 
nervous manner he continued, 'Have you heard from Buell?' 
I answered in the negative, and he went on to say, 'Strange, 
strange, he ought to have been here ten days ago ; ten days 
ago.' Then taking his map and placing it on the ground, he 
pointed out the route of General Buell's army, the streams 
to cross, etc., repeating 'ten days ago.' We then rode back 
to our camp. I reported to General W. H. L. Wallace who, 
while surprised, said but little, hardly making any reply." 

The advance of Buell's army began to arrive on the even- 
ing of the fifth and in another day's time the Union forces 
would have been consolidated. The Confederate leaders 
were cognizant of the state of affairs and were anxious to 
bring on an engagement before the Union forces should be 
united. General Albert Sidney Johnston was Commander- 
in-Chief of the Southern forces, with the able Corps Com- 
manders Beauregard. Bragg, Polk, Pillow, Hardee and Crit- 

[191] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

tenden. They succeeded in their wish to engage Grant's 
army before reinforcements should make it stronger, and 
did so with such tremendous force and suddenness as to 
carry all before them for a time, and it looked as if they 
might carry out their boast of watering their horses in the 
Tennessee river after the total annihilation of Grant's army. 

Prentiss' line was the first attacked and soon after, part 
of Sherman's division. When they found they were being 
attacked in force they asked for reinforcements from di- 
visions in the rear. McClernand sent part of his division 
forward, as did also Hurlbut and W. H. L. Wallace. Gener- 
al Grant sent an order to General Lew Wallace at Crump's 
Landing, beyond Snake Creek, to hasten, but he did not ar- 
rive until seven in the evening, from misunderstanding of 
orders. 

General W. H. L. Wallace's division was composed of 
three brigades of infantry, four batteries of artillery and 
four companies of cavalry. His staff officers were Assistant 
Adjutant-General, Captain William McMichael ; his aides 
were Captain T. J. Newham, Lieutenant L P. Rumsey, of 
Taylor's battery, and Lieutenant G. L Davis and Cyrus E. 
Dickey of the Eleventh Illinois infantry. 

Captain L P. Rumsey writes : 

"The morning of April sixth was quiet with us back 
near the landing until as we sat down to our mess-table we 
heard a sudden roar of musketry in the front and the next 
moment the boom of cannon. All horses were quickly sad- 
dled, division ordered under arms, and soon after we were 
moving in column toward the front, with General Wallace 
at the head of the division, marching toward the Shiloh 
Church on the Corinth road, to the Duncan Field, where 
we found a gap between General Prentiss' right and General 
McClernand's left,* where General Wallace placed General 
Sweeney, commanding Third brigade, on the right cov- 
ering the Shiloh road and Duncan Field, and General Tut- 
tle's First brigade on the left, joining General Prentiss' 
right. Our Second brigade, commanded by General Mc- 
Arthur, and Battery A, Captain Wood commanding, were 

*To the left of Prentiss was Hurlbut's division, to right of W. H. L. 
Wallace's division came McClernand and to his right Sherman's division. 

[192] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GE NERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

diverted by General Grant and taken to the left to the sup- 
port of General Dave Stewart, or to fill a gap between Gen- 
erals Hurlbut and Stewart. 

"In some unaccountable way General Sweeney's brigade 
was broken to pieces. As I sat by General Wallace in rear 
of General Tuttle's brigade, who were heavily engaged, Gen- 
eral Sweeney rode up and reported to General Wallace, 
saying, "I have broken the center; if I can be supported, I 
can hold it.' Without orders, I rode to the right and found 
great disorder in Sweeney's brigade, then rode rapidly to 
Wallace and reported the same, at which time Wallace was 
watching with great interest heavy fighting on our left by 
Tuttle in what is called 'The Hornet's Nest.' General Wal- 
lace could not believe or understand my report, for he had 
great confidence in General Sweeney and his brigade. What 
had become of Sweeney I never knew until after the battle 
of the first day I found him without a command with Gen- 
eral Sherman on the extreme right, he having passed clear 
across General McClernand's front, whose division lay be- 
tween Wallace and Sherman, and one of Sweeney's regi- 
ments moving to the rear on the Corinth road without or- 
ders or commander. 

"In this ride and investigation I found General McCler- 
nand had withdrawn his left half a mile to the rear of Wal- 
lace's right, leaving his right exposed. I plead with Mc- 
Clernand to throw his left forward, but he refused. I rode 
rapidly to Wallace, but it was too late. As I reached him 
General Hurlbut, who was on the left of General Prentiss 
and at right angles with Wallace, broke in a rout. This left 
Prentiss and Wallace flanked both on right and left and it 
was from the enemy on our right coming into the gap made 
by Sweeney and McClernand, from which our noble, brave, 
cool General received his fatal bullet as he was falling back 
in command of his troops. 

"General Prentiss, who was captured with a portion of 
bis division, told me after he was exchanged, that General 
Wallace advised that he, Prentiss, wheel his division to the 
left and he, Wallace, would about face his command and 
then moved onto the enemy's flank who were then crowding 
General Hurlbut back to our rear, which shows the cool de- 

[193] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF CxENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

liberation and generalship of W. H. L. Wallace's action. It 
was while executing this move that General Wallace re- 
ceived his death blow from Rebel General Polk's troops, 
who were in General McClernand's front." 

By 2:30 o'clock McClernand's division had fallen back 
and most of Sherman's division. Parts of the division of 
Hurlbut, with those of Prentiss and Wallace, as Eddy says, 
"Stood between the enemy and destruction — stood like ocean 
beat rocks." WilHam Preston Johnston, in his life of Al- 
bert Sidney Johnston and the Shiloh Campaign in the Cen- 
tury Magazine of February, 1885, says of this part of the 
battle, from his Southern standpoint : 

"On the Federal left-center W. H. L. Wallace was 
massed with Prentiss' fragments in a position so impregna- 
ble and thronged with such fierce defenders that it won 
from the Confederates the memorable title of the 'Hornet's 
Nest.' Here behind a dense thicket on the crest of the hill 
was posted a strong force of as hardy troops as ever fought, 
almost perfectly protected by the conformation of the 
ground, and by logs and other rude and hastily prepared 
defenses. To assail it an open field had to be passed, en- 
filaded by the fire of its batteries. No figure of speech 
would be too strong to express the deadly peril of assault 
upon this natural fortress, whose inaccessible barriers blazed 
for six hours with sheets of flame and whose infernal gates 
poured forth a murderous storm of shot and shell and 
musketry fire which no living thing could quell or even 
withstand. Brigade after brigade was led against it. Hind- 
man's brigades, which earlier swept everything before them, 
were reduced to fragments and paralyzed for the remainder 
of the day. A. P. Stewart's regiments made fruitless as- 
saults. Then Bragg ordered up Gibson's brigade. Gibson, 
himself a knightly soldier, was aided by Colonels, three of 
whom afterwards became Generals. The brigade made a 
gallant charge, but like the others, recoiled from the fire it 
encountered. Under a cross fire of artillery and musketry 
it at last fell back with heavy loss. Gibson asked for artil- 
lery to be sent to him; but it was not at hand and Bragg 
sent word to charge again. The Colonels thought it hope- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

less; but Gibson led them again to the attack, and again 
they suffered a bloody repulse. Four times the assault 
proved unavailing. 

"About half-past three o'clock the struggle which had 
been going on for five hours with fitful violence was re- 
newed with the utmost fury. Polk's and Bragg's Corps, 
intermingled, were engaged in a death grapple with the 
sturdy commands of Wallace and Prentiss. * * * * 
General Ruggles judiciously collected all the artillery he 
could find, some eleven batteries, which he massed against 
the position. The opening of so heavy a fire and the simul- 
taneous advance of the whole Confederate line resulted first 
in confusion, then in the death of Wallace and the surren- 
der of Prentiss at about half-past five o'clock. Each Con- 
federate commander of division, brigade and regiment, at 
his command pounced upon the prey, believed it entitled to 
the credit of the capture. Breckenridge, Ruggles, Withers, 
Cheatham and other divisions which helped to subdue these 
stubborn fighters each imagined his own the hardest part of 
the work. 

"These Federal Generals have received scant justice for 
their stubborn defense. They agreed to hold their position 
at all odds and did so until Wallace received his fatal 
wound and Prentiss was surrounded and captured with 
nearly three thousand men. This delay was the salvation 
of Grant's army." 

In a Philadelphia paper of June 13th, 1885, a member of 
the Mobile bar writing an account of this battle as a partici- 
pant on the Confederate side, says: 

"Towards four o'clock the troops of Bragg and Polk en- 
gaged in a death struggle with Prentiss and Wallace. These 
Federal Generals were delivering blow for blow. They felt 
keenly their responsibility. On them depended the safety 
of General Grant and the rest of the army. Wallace fell 
mortally wounded, the hero of this battle on the Federal 
side. The table of losses at Shiloh will show this. Many 
Northern writers have sought to make Sherman the hero 
of this fight. It is the old story of the living dog and the 
dead lion." 

[195] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Eddy says : "General Hurlbut's division became ex- 
hausted and fell back, leaving Wallace alone. In conse- 
quence of losing his support the division of General W. H. 
L. Wallace thus in isolated advance was compelled to fall 
back, the last to leave the field. Just at this moment the 
brave commander was mortally wounded." 

As Charles Carleton Coffin says: "It was like taking 
away the strength of his division. The. men lost heart in a 
moment. The power which had inspired them was gone. 
General Wallace was a very brave man. He was cool, had 
great presence of mind and possessed the rare qualification 
of making his soldiers feel his presence. He could bring 
order out of confusion and by a word, a look, or an act, 
inspire his men. * * * * j^g could hold his ground, 
but could not push the superior force. His coolness, en- 
durance, bravery, stubbornness, his quick perception of all 
that was taking place, his power over his men, to make each 
man a hero, did much towards saving the army on that dis- 
astrous day." 

Night came on and the battle ceased. The Confederate 
hosts spending it in the deserted camps of their Northern 
foes. The Union army was huddled together near the Land- 
ing in the camp of W. H. L. Wallace. 

When General Wallace received his death wound his 
brother-in-law, Cyrus Dickey, was riding by his side, and 
when he fell supposed him killed. He, with the assistance 
of three orderlies, endeavored to carry him from the field, 
but were only able to get a short distance when the firing 
became so heavy on all sides they were compelled to leave 
the General's body. They laid him near some ammunition 
boxes, so he would not be trampled on by the flying horses 
and sadly left him and in five minutes the enemy was be- 
tween them. 

The battle was renewed the next day, but it was an un- 
even contest. Generals Buell and Lew Wallace had arrived 
with twenty thousand fresh troops. The Southerners were 
exhausted and early in the afternoon began to retire from 
the field and sought their old camping ground at Corinth, 
leaving slaughter and carnage behind them, and the great 
battle of Pittsburg Landing was at an end. 

[196] 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Death and Burial of General Wallace. Pathetic 
Letter of Mrs. Wallace. 

THE tide of battle turned on the- sixth, the Confeder- 
ates were driven back, and the Union forces recov- 
ered their lost ground of the day before. About nine 
o'clock in the morning General Wallace was found still 
alive. The enemy had covered him with a blanket, but it 
had rained in the night and he was wet and cold. He was 
taken down to the Landing, placed on a transport and taken 
to Savannah to the headquarters of General Grant in the 
Cherry Mansion. A bed was put in the library for him and 
everything was done that skill and love could accomplish. 

In the same room General Walter Q. Gresham, as Com- 
mandant of the Post of Savannah, had his office with only 
a curtain division, and a continual stream of men poured in 
for orders. General Gresham did everything in his power 
to maintain quiet so as not to disturb the sufferer. 

A pathetic letter is here given, written by Mrs. Wallace 
some time after the battle, to her aunt, Mrs. Templeton, in 
which she describes the scenes on the boat, the recovery 
of General Wallace's person and his last hours. 

"The lower deck of our boat and that of others was used 
to ferry reinforcements over. Over and back, over and 
back we moved. I was earnestly watching these scenes, 
more hopeful than most around me. Elder Button came up 
the steps with a worn, depressed look, for he had been par- 
tially disabled by a spent ball while caring for the wounded 
on the field. I felt sorry for him. knowing he had looked 
on so many loved faces that day for the last time and that 
he was suffering somewhat from his own injuries. 

"Looking still more depressed, he came near me and a 
little behind me and said, 'This is an awful battle.' I re- 
plied, 'Yes, but these fresh troops will yet win the day.' 
He said, 'You have a great many relations on this field, you 
cannot hope to see them all come in safe.' I answered, 

[197] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

'They all came safely through Donelson, and to-day my hus- 
band is in command of a division and is comparatively safe.' 
He repeated from behind my shoulder, 'It is an awful bat- 
tle.' My heart was touched by his depressed tones, but I 
thought his exhausting day's work had caused them. I 
turned to console him and raising my eyes to the face of 
Hartley, who sat in front of me, and whose countenance 
reflected horror as he gazed full in the face of Elder But- 
ton, the dread truth fell on my heart like a thunderbolt, like 
the cold hand of steel. 

"Words needed not to tell it; 'twas before me! I was 
stunned, chilled, almost paralyzed. Suffering came hours 
afterwards. Very soon Brother Cyrus came to me, self- 
charged with the duty of telling me my life had been dark- 
ened. He was spared the task ; his work was already done. 
He gave me some of the details. Will's division was falling 
back under orders and in order, he leading them. They had 
been outflanked by the enemy and at the time were under 
a heavy cross-fire of rebel musketry. Cyrus had just di- 
rected Will's attention to some move of the enemy and he 
raised in his stirrups apparently to see better: but a shot 
had reached him, and the next moment he fell upon his face 
on the ground. He was in full view of the whole division 
at the time, and from that time confusion reigned. Their 
hopes of success were gone; Cyrus and an orderly, (one 
who loved Will) carried him — whom they supposed dead — 
over a quarter of a mile. They had passed by their own 
Hnes and the enemy was madly upon them. To remain was 
to court death, and with no hope of finally saving their 
precious charge, they laid him tenderly beside some ammu- 
nition to shield him from the tramping feet, and tearfully 
left him, narrowly escaping with their own lives. 

"My husband was dead, and the enemy had possession 
of the ground where he lay. 'Twas all they could tell me, 
and it was enough. 

"In a few minutes Cyrus left me to go to Colonel Ran- 
som of the Eleventh, who lay wounded on the steamer near- 
by, and he was by mistake carried down to Savannah. So 
I was quite alone that fearful night. God gave me strength 
and I spent much of the night in bathing the fevered brows 
and limbs of the sufferers around me. Action was a relief 

[198] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

to me, and it was slight help to aid men who were suffering 
in the cause for which Will had given his life. 

"On Monday morning about ten o'clock, as I was sitting 
beside a wounded man just brought in, Cyrus came to me 
with the word that Will had been brought in (after the 
rebels were put to flight) and Oh ! joy, he was breathing. I 
flew to the adjoining boat, where he was. There on a nar- 
row mattress on the floor in the middle of the cabin he lay 
mortally wounded. His face was flushed, but he was 
breathing naturally, so like himself, save for that fearful 
wound in his temple. A ball had passed through his head 
in a manner that made it marvelous that he could still live. 
But the greatest joy was yet to come — Will recognized my 
voice at once and clasped my hand. I was thrilled and ex- 
claimed, 'He knows me; he knows me!' Others said that 
could not be, but Will's lips moved and with difficulty ut- 
tered, 'Yes.' Words fail to tell how sweet it was. I be- 
lieved my husband dead; and he is alive and knows me; 
Father, I thank Thee ! I could appreciate all the feelings of 
Mary and Martha at the tomb of Lazarus. 

"The boat was now taken to Savannah, and we were 
permitted to place him in a large room at Post Headquar- 
ters. Brothers Cyrus Dickey, Martin Wallace, Hitt Wallace 
and several of Will's staff were there, and all was done that 
ready hands and loving hearts could do. He seemed so 
happy and satisfied to have me near him, but lay in calm 
self-control even in death, conscious that his moments of 
life were continued only by this rest. Hope with us grew 
brighter until after periodical delirium, caused by excessive 
inflammation, passed away and his pulse began to fail ; we 
knew his moments with us were few. My darling knew he 
was going and pressed my hand long and fondly to his 
heart. Then he waved me away and said, 'We meet in 
Heaven.' They were the last words upon those loved lips, 
and he faded away gently and peacefully and hopefully. 

*"My father snatched a moment to come to my side 

* Colonel Dickey sent four miles Monday night to ask leave to go to 
the bedside of General Wallace, he was not only refused but ordered 
by General Sherman to report to him Tuesday morning with his entire 
command. For two days he was in the saddle constantly in pursuit of the 
enemy, as he says : " No surroundings of my life were ever more painful. 
Ann had been in the neighborhood for three days and was hanging over 
the bedside of her dying husband and I could not come to her support." 

[199] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Thursday evening as he was breathing his last. I had now 
lost him in very deed, but the blow was not so heavy as 
when I first heard he was killed on the battlefield. Those 
last days had been so cherished, so unexpected, I raised my 
heart in grateful thanks for this, and also that the dearest 
friends of both were with him at his death. God had led 
me there, so that I should not meet the great sorrow alone. 
He had permitted me to soothe the last hours of my hus- 
band and had given him appreciated knowledge of the fact. 
"After he could no longer see me, he would pass his 
fingers over every hand he touched to assure himself by the 
ring that he held mine. In his restlessness he would drop 
the hand for a moment, but the next instant he would search 
for it and for the ring. If he took the right hand and found 
no ring, he would pass quickly to the left hand, and touch 
the ring as evidence of my presence." 

An extract from a letter of Colonel M. R. M. Wallace 
written at this time to his sister, gives a little more of this 
sad scene : 

Savannah, Tenn., April 8, 1862. 

He tells about the battle and of his brother, General Wal- 
lace's fall, and of the arrival of Mrs. Wallace on Sunday 
morning. He goes on to say : 

"She was the first and only person our dear brother rec- 
ognized until to-day. He evidently knew her by her voice, 
and manifested his delight at her presence by patting her on 
the waist and the pressure of the hand, which was a great 
comfort under the circumstances. This morning he recog- 
nized me, and asked where we were. To-day, also, he asked 
for some ice and soup. He suffers a great deal but is grow- 
ing more and more conscious, and we confidently hope and 
expect if his strength holds out a sufficient length of time, 
that he will finally recover. Ann is by his side constantly. 
Her being here softens the sad calamity amazingly. 

"The rebels have been driven back to their breastworks 
at Corinth, and I think we have them about whipped, though 
we may have another sharp conflict at Corinth. It seems 
as if the whole Confederate army had collected at this point, 
for they are thicker than the sands on the seashore and fight 

[200] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

like soldiers. The slaughter has been terrible on both 
sides." 

A letter from a private, H. M. Parker, of the Eleventh, 
written to his father on April ninth, says in regard to Gen- 
eral Wallace : 

"Our beloved former Colonel W. H. L. Wallace, lately 
appointed Brigadier-General and assigned to General C. F. 
Smith's division, fell Sunday afternoon, it was thought 
mortally wounded. He lay on the field until Monday morn- 
ing when he was taken to Savannah and to-day we hear he 
is alive, but there is little hope of his recovery. His fall, 
I understand, came near losing us the day, but I cannot 
trust myself to speak of so good a man and soldier. Only 
those who have served under him can realize our country's 
loss in his fall." 

General Halleck, then Commander-in-Chief of the West- 
ern armies, said when he heard of General Wallace's death: 
"We have sustained a great loss, as he was one of the truest, 
bravest men this country ever knew." 

Mrs. Wallace's brother, John Dickey, writing from Ot- 
tawa, tells of the feeling there when the news was first re- 
ceived of General Wallace's death: 

"Ottawa, Illinois, April 11, 1862. 

"On Tuesday night we received the news that there had 
been a terrible battle at Pittsburg Landing and resulted in 
a grand victory. Of course, the whole community was 
thrown into a tumult of enthusiasm and joy. Every flag 
in the country was at the mast's head and every one shout- 
ing the tidings of victory. About ten o'clock on Wednesday 
we got a dispatch that Will was killed, giving no particulars 
whatever. The news ran like wild fire through Ottawa, and 
in ten minutes every flag was at half-mast and the streets 
were covered with groups of tearful eyes. I never wit- 
nessed such a change in my life. It cast a gloom over every 
heart, and we heard no talk of anything but poor Will. It 
was really a day of sorrow with everyone in this vicinity." 
The local paper at Ottawa speaks in the same strain : 
"The rejoicing of our citizens on Wednesday morning 
over the great news in Tennessee was suddenly turned to 

[201] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

mourning on the receipt of the news a few hours after that 
General Wallace was among the slain. Of the hundreds of 
brave patriots who have left our city and joined the armies 
of the Union, there was perhaps not one on whom the af- 
fections, pride and hope of our people were more firmly 
fixed than General Wallace. A long resident among us, a 
leading member of our bar, a loved and valued citizen, 
amiable, liberal, kind-hearted, with a character adored by 
all, the noble and manly qualities, and sans peur, sans re- 
proche, his loss indeed, aside from all considerations of his 
great service to his country in the field, was felt by our citi- 
zens as locally an irreparable calamity." 

General Grant sent General Wallace with his staff, rela- 
tions, servants, horse and equipments all North on a navy 
dispatch boat. 

The remains arrived in Chicago on Sunday evening, 
April thirteenth. The Chicago paper says : 

"The remains of General W. H. L. Wallace, who so 
bravely sacrificed his life at the late battle of Pittsburg 
Landing, arrived in this city Sunday evening about 9 o'clock 
on a special train from Cairo furnished by direction from 
General Strong. The body was in charge of Colonel T. 
Lyle Dickey of the Fourth Illinois cavalry, accompanied by 
Major M. R. M. Wallace of the Fourth cavalry, a brother 
of the deceased. Lieutenant Cyrus E. Dickey, Lieutenant 
I. P. Rumsey, Aides-de-Camp to General Wallace, Captain 
C. Y. Hotchkiss, Acting Adjutant-General. The wife of 
General Wallace, who arrived at Pittsburg Landing the 
same day her husband received his death wound, also ac- 
companied his remains. 

"At the depot they were met by a detachment of about 
fifty men composed of Companies D and H of the Irish 
brigade. The detachment was in charge of Captain Simp- 
son, Company D. 

"The body was placed in a hearse which had been pro- 
vided by order of Mayor Rumsey and about half-past nine 
the procession started from the depot in the following or- 
der : 

"Two files of soldiers with reversed arms. Hearse at- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

tended by six commissioned officers, four from the Irish 
brigade, and two from the Scotch regiment, as pall bearers. 
A rear guard of six men with fixed bayonets. 

"The procession proceeded up Lake Street to Clark, up 
Clark to Van Buren and thence to the Rock Island depot, 
and notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, was attended 
by a large concourse of citizens. The tolling of the Court 
House bell as the procession passed through the streets 
startled the whole city, many not being aware of the death 
of the General. 

"It was impossible to attend the remains of the dead with 
public demonstration of sorrow which would have been 
done had earlier notice of the arrival of the train been re- 
ceived. Combined with this, the arrival of a large number 
of prisoners at Camp Douglas, rendered it absolutely neces- 
sary that but few of the comparatively small force stationed 
there should be withdrawn for the purpose of escort duty." 

At Ottawa the paper speaks of the arrival of the funeral 
cortege : 

"Ottawa, Illinois, April 19, 1862. 

"General Wallace was brought to this city Monday 
morning, April 14th, at 4 o'clock. The tolling of che bells 
of the various churches announced at that hour the arrival 
of the body. An escort of the Knights Templar and a dele- 
gation of citizens was at the depot to receive it and ac- 
company it to his late residence. At 2 o'clock p. m. the 
body was laid in state at the Supreme Court House and 
visited by thousands of citizens and strangers. Tuesday 
morning, attended by the members of the Masonic frater- 
nity the body was carried to the Episcopal Church. At the 
church the usual rites for the burial of the dead were per- 
formed by Mr. Benedict, the rector, assisted by Reverend 
M. Clark, also of this city, and who was formerly chaplain 
of the famous Eleventh regiment. At the conclusion of 
the ceremonies in the church the procession was re-formed 
and escorted the remains to the family burial place in a 
beautiful spot near his residence on the bluff. The funeral 
ceremonies were entirely of a civic order, there being no 
military organization in this vicinity. They were under the 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

immediate control of the Masonic fraternity, in accordance 
with a wish frequently expressed by General Wallace, while 
alive, to be buried with Masonic rites. The only military in 
the cortege were Captain Hotchkiss, Lieutenant Dickey and 
Lieutenant Rumsey, General Wallace's aides. The charger 
of General Wallace was led in the procession by his body 
servant, and the old flag of the Eleventh Illinois regiment, 
which had been so fearfully riddled at Fort Donelson, was 
borne by one of his orderlies. 

"The day of his burial was one of unusual gloom ex- 
ternally. Yet, notwithstanding rain and mud, the citizens 
thronged the streets, swelling the funeral cortege. Business 
was suspended and stores and offices closed. It is not often 
an entire people are brought to such a general and sincere 
mourning. Indeed, it is seldom that the removal of a single 
individual affects so many minds with a sense of personal 
loss. 

"The occasion and circumstances were peculiar. The 
deceased had occupied a prominent position in this county, 
and held a high place in pubHc esteem. He had fallen with 
distinguished honors in devotion to his country, in a cause 
in which our sympathies are one. 

"General Wallace was universally respected, by many 
loved. Naturally noble and generous, always courteous, his 
life in most respects far above that of ordinary men, was a 
model of manly dignity and honor, and yet of engaging sim- 
plicity and unaffected modesty. 

**One would hardly have supposed that a spirit so gentle, 
a disposition so modest and retiring, was meet for the war- 
rior and chieftain. Yet Wallace was at the head of his col- 
umn unabashed, calm and dauntless of soul. His men had 
all confidence in him. Under such Generals men do not 
run. They realize the value of the life of their leader, the 
soundness of his judgment and the justice of his cause. 

"But he is gone. He sleeps with the heroic dead. He 
has closed an honorable career. He leaves an untarnished 
reputation." 

Another newspaper article in an Ottawa paper speaks of 
the service rendered by the Knights Templar : 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"The occasion of the funeral obsequies to General Wal- 
lace in this city on Monday and Tuesday brought promi- 
nently to the notice of our citizens a branch of the Masonic 
order about which more deserves to be known. In the ab- 
sence of any military organization in this region there was 
a real embarrassment felt at the meeting of citizens how 
certain formalities at which military of some sort seemed 
indispensable, were to be arranged. They were happily re- 
lieved, however, by an officer of the Knights Templar, who 
assured them the order was abundantly able to meet the 
exigency. And they did it nobly. From the moment the 
body arrived it was surrounded by a guard of honor, thor- 
oughly trained and understanding their duty to the last min- 
ute. They escorted the body in true military order to the 
residence of General Wallace, guarded it faithfully while 
there, escorted it to the Court House and guarded it while it 
lay in state and surrounded it with brilliant military escort 
in the funeral cortege. They deserve all honor, yet it was 
with them a labor of love. General Wallace has occupied 
the highest position in the order and ever the first place in 
the hearts of the brotherhood. The order was commanded 
by Sir Knight Henry C. Ranney of Chicago, Grand Re- 
corder." 

Here are given some extracts from a discourse on the 
death of General Wallace preached by the Reverend Z. Col- 
man at the Baptist Church, Ottawa, April 13th, 1862, from 
the text n. Samuel, 13 :2. * * * * "And the victory 
that day was turned into mourning unto all people." 
* * * * "Our text is especially appropriate to our own 
city. These victories in which our people, and the people of 
this State, have so direct, immediate and large an interest, 
have really been turned into mourning to us. Our banners 
that would gladly have floated from the top of their staffs, 
have been draped with weeds of woe and mournfully hung 
at half-mast. The shout that would have gone up from 
many patriotic hearts, has given place to the solemn knell 
and the mournful dirge. Countenances that would have 
been radiant with joy, have been covered with sadness and 
gloom. Tearful eyes and bowed heads have told the grief 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

of our people. Surely the victory this day is turned into 
mourning to this people. And these demonstrations of grief 
are not without a cause. One of the noblest forms that has 
moved among us for years has been borne through the 
streets to its final resting place. Marred, bruised and brok- 
en by the bloody hand of treason, one known to all — pure 
and honorable in all the relationships of life, in manhood's 
noble prime, he has been smitten down by the cruel traitor- 
ous hand of slavery. His place at the bar — in the political 
assembly, at the Nation's anniversary, in the social gather- 
ing, in the family circle, the place of worship, shall know 
him no more forever. Not only has the grave closed over 
our gallant dead, but it has opened at our feet and closed 
over one of the bravest hearts that responded to his country, 
in the hour of the Nation's peril. A friend, a neighbor, a 
citizen, a patriot, a hero, with the well earned honors of 
his country fresh about his brow, has been brought from the 
distant bloody field and borne to his long home ; and the 
mourners go about the streets. Surely the casualties of 
war have turned this victory into mourning to this people. 
* * * * ^]^gj^ victories vindicate the Government in 
its legitimate work they accomplish their proper object. 
When the murderer is apprehended and brought to justice, 
it vindicates the Government, it sends a feeling of security 
to every inhabitant. 

"When treason lifts its murderous hand against the Gov- 
ernment, lets loose the scourge of civil war, the Government 
that suppresses the treason, punishes the traitors, restores 
peace, spreads its protecting shield over the feeblest indi- 
vidual, and humblest calling; such a government vindicates 
itself. Unless this Government accomplishes this, we shall 
have other causes of sorrow and mourning besides the 
dreadful casualties of the battlefield. When the news of 
this last battle in which our own gallant Wallace fell 
reached me, the dead, the dying, the wounded, the desolate 
homes and hearts for a time completely filled my mind, 
shutting out everything else. I seemed for a moment to for- 
get my country and the cruel treason that sought its de- 
struction. My soul was filled with strange and solemn emo- 
tions unlike anything I had ever experienced before. As I 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

recovered from the shock, my first thoughts were : 'Must 
so much precious blood be shed to wash away the Nation's 
sins?' My soul filled with grief. I have watched to see the 
results upon the pubHc mind. These dear bought victories 
ought to purge the national politics. They ought to quicken 
into life the national conscience. They ought to arouse 
every patriot's heart to the fixed determination to banish 
human bondage from this land. Unless these bloody vic- 
tories lead to these results we have many bitter tears yet to 
weep. Unless the time of the end draws nigh, the time 
when the people, freed from party shackles, long and long 
outraged by this monstrous iniquity, shall rise in their 
majesty, and by the God of justice swear that slavery, the 
cause of all this woe, shall die. Stopping short of this our 
victories will be turned into mourning more grievous than 
we have yet experienced. * * * * ^^ye ^Jq well to 
mourn. This victory has cast a gloom over this city. Here 
Wallace pursued his professional studies when a youth. He 
has grown up to noble manhood in this community. We all 
knew him well. Of all the brave men who rallied to the 
standard of their country, not one possessed a braver or 
more patriotic heart. But fearless as he was, his modesty 
and gentleness and heart were equal to his bravery. On the 
bloody field of Donelson after that sanguinary conflict the 
fragments of the gallant Eleventh were mustered again. I 
am told that when the small number that survived that 
dreadful day was announced, Wallace, brave, calm, cool and 
collected as he always was, shook with emotion and wept 
like a child. The dead, the dead, his own companions-in- 
arms, who had chosen him for their leader, lay strewn 
around on the battlefield. I shall never forget one incident 
that revealed the man. None but those who were at the 
National Capital on the fourth of March, 1861, will ever 
fully know the state of the public mind in the metropolis of 
the nation at that eventful time. The President-elect, from 
considerations of safety, had stolen into the Capital under 
the curtains of night ; the city was patrolled with armed 
men, many looking forward to the inauguration day with 
fearful forebodings. Many entertained serious fears that 
the streets would flow with blood, and the President-elect 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

would be assassinated on his way to the Capitol or upon the 
platform. This may seem like folly; but it was no folly 
then and there. Wallace was a personal friend of the Pres- 
ident's. He thought of proposing to those having charge of 
the arrangements to allow himself and a few known friends 
to be admitted to the platform secretly armed and ready for 
any emergency, ready to throw themselves between the 
President and any stealthy foe that might in spite of all pre- 
cautions suddenly fall upon him. He said to me : 'Will 
you be of that number?' 'Certainly,' was my reply. On 
inquiring he found that every precaution that friendship, 
prudence or patriotism could dictate would be provided. 
That proposition truly revealed the man. He was just as 
ready then to grapple with treason, though in the assassin's 
garb, as he afterwards was to meet it upon the field. It is 
meet that we should weep, for he was our neighbor and our 
friend as well as a noble man. 

"We at least should resolve never to leave in peace the 
great iniquity that has kindled this rebellion, and smote 
down our friend and one of the Nation's patriots and he- 
roes. Let others feel as they may, there should be but one 
determination with us — that we will never cease till the 
great crime that nerved the arm that laid our loved and 
honorable Wallace low is destroyed, root and branch. I laid 
my hand on his coffin, and with emotions unlike any that 
ever agitated my bosom before, made a solemn vow — that 
while God gives me breath I will not cease to wage a war 
against that great wrong that has shed the blood of our 
friend, and now seeks the destruction of our country." 

In a Masonic paper is the following. 

"In Memoriam. 

"Sunday, Fourth Month, Twentieth Day, A. L. 5862. 

" 'Let the bell toll, a saintly soul 

Floats down the Stygian River.' 

"Fourteen years since, while residing in Central Illi- 
nois, we were so favored as to enjoy the intimate compan- 
ionship of one on whom 'Every God had set His seal, to 
give the world assurance of a man.' The reputation has 
since become national of the then capable but comparatively 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

unknown young man whom we so esteemed and respected. 
He was then just beginning the practice of law, having 
finished his studies after his return from Mexico, where at 
Buena Vista, he, as Adjutant of an IlHnois regiment, 'flashed 
his maiden sword,' and achieved distinction. Honorable to 
a fault, in love with his profession, faithful to his clients, 
and decidedly talented, he 'pursued the even tenor of his 
way,' and at the time the body politic had become covered 
with the festering sores of rebellion and the machinations 
of the conspirators were fully developed in the memorable 
bombardment of Fort Sumter; he was in the enjoyment of 
a large practice, and was the center of a host of admiring 
friends. Born of Southern stock, he was yet utterly loyal, 
and at once placed himself at the disposal of his country. 
Unanimously, and without solicitation on his part, he was 
elected to command the Illinois Eleventh, and, having good 
material with which to work, he soon made it one of the 
finest regiments in the service. As commander of the Post 
at Bird's Point and as Chief of Brigade at Fort Donelson, 
he evinced those high qualities, that aptitude for command, 
and that calm courage, which fully proved his right to the 
encomiums which were so cordially bestowed upon him, and 
he reflected honor upon the West, and upon the Fraternity 
of which he was so earnest a member. At Pittsburg Land- 
ing he commanded a division, and fell at the head of his 
column on the first day of the fight. When struck by the 
fatal bullet he dismounted as coolly as if on parade * * * 
supported by two of his comrades he laid down to die. In 
the 'burly burly' of those 'moving accidents by flood and 
field' the retreat, the rally and the repulse, which rendered 
famous the subsequent thirty-six hours our brother was for- 
gotten. xAfter the battle, search was made for him and he 
was found on the spot where he had lain so long, exposed 
to the elements. He was insensible, and not long afterwards 
he breathed his last. Sorrowing companions in arms bore 
him to a place of shelter, and to his stricken wife; and 
thence his body was brought to Ottawa, Illinois, where he 
had so long lived and where it was buried with Masonic 
honors one day last week — the whole population mourning 
in unison with his bereaved family. 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

"Brave and capable W. H. L. Wallace! Ten thousand 
rebels slain cannot compensate for his loss ! 'His work was 
unfinished, and brethren mourn. Green be the sod above 
him; honored be his memory! Eloquent advocate, true 
patriot, faithful brother, gallant soldier ; he has gone to his 
reward in the Celestial Lodge above and 'after life's fitful 
fever he sleeps well.' " 



[210] 



CHAPTER XX. 

Public Opinion of General Wallace. His Services as 

An Officer. His Character as a Man. 

Memorial Window. 

A STRONG friendship existed between General Wal- 
lace and General T. E. G. Ransom — they were kin- 
dred souls. Ransom went out as Major in Colonel 
Wallace's regiment, rising to Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel 
and Brigadier-General, the latter position before he was 
thirty years old. Dr. Eddy says of him: "Young, heroic 
and handsome, brave, enthusiastic and manly, courageous as 
a lion, tender as a woman. No man so completely recalls 
the best qualities of the days of chivalry. No braver heart 
was laid upon the country's altar, no clearer head was 
bowed before the great destroyer, no more unsullied sword 
has been laid upon the wall. Yielding up his life in the 
very flower of youth he will remain in memory ever young." 

After General Wallace's death Mrs. Wallace gave his 
Colonel's shoulder straps to Colonel Ransom, who writes 
her the following letter : 

"Headquarters, Eleventh Illinois Infantry, 
"Camp Stanton, April 28, 1862. 
"Dear Madam : 

"Your present, with the accompanying beautiful letter, 
handed to me by your brother, are before me. I can only 
express my gratitude for the honor you would confer in 
your expressed wish for me to wear the 'pasantz' of your 
late lamented husband. While I appreciate your noble mo- 
tive, while I feel honored with the trust, my love for your 
husband, my reverence for his memory, prevents me from 
placing the sacred emblems so lately worn by him upon my 
unworthy shoulders. 

"But I will promise you that they shall be worn nearer 
to my heart through the battles that may follow. I trust 
they may constantly remind me of him who has gone before 
and may they nerve me to emulate his noble teachings and 
example. And then when these scenes of blood and car- 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

nage are past and Peace once more reigns over our land, 
I shall hope to return these precious relics to you. If it 
should be otherwise and I fall at the head of the 'old Elev- 
enth' I shall but follow in the steps of the illustrious dead, 
our former brave commander, and still 'the eagles' can be 
borne to you by other hands, who will tell you whether the 
laurel won for them when worn by their late owner, have 
had their luster dimmed while entrusted to my keeping. 

"As the friend of your late husband and of yourself, 
having received so many flattering evidences of your con- 
fidence and esteem, it perhaps, should be my mission in this 
hour of your deepest sorrow to offer you consolation, but, 
my dear Madam, I am unequal to this task. I know in ex- 
pressing my own feelings I should add new pangs to your 
already overburdened heart. I could but tell you of long 
hours of sadness, of frequent lonely rides to the spot where 
he fell and how I bow with sorrow when I reflect that never 
more can I meet that noble man on earth — how can I who 
have been governed by worldly thoughts, ambition and 
pride, intrude upon the sacred grief and offer consolation 
to one whose Christian life and happy belief points to a 
higher, nobler sphere, where as your beloved husband said, 
'We meet in Heaven.' Then let these last beautiful words 
of that dying hero serve as a bright light to guide you 
through the dark paths of this life. 

"That this hope will sustain you, that a kind Providence 
who has promised to care for the widow will watch over 
and protect you amid the many trials that are before you is 
my earnest prayer, 

"Believe me. Madam, that anything that it may be in my 
power to do to lighten your burden of cares thrown upon 
you in any way whatever I shall be happy to assist you, and 
trust the near ties that bound your late husband and myself 
together, the love I shall ever sacredly cherish for his mem- 
ory, will be evidence to you of the happiness I should feel 
to be of the slightest service to you, his nearest friend. 

With expressions of highest esteem, 

"I am truly your friend, 

"T. E. G. Ransom. 

"Mrs. Ann Wallace, Ottawa, Illinois." 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Captain William McMichael, Assistant Adjutant-General 
to Major-General C. F. Smith, and acting in the same ca- 
pacity for General Wallace at the battle of Shiloh, was 
taken prisoner on that fateful day. When he returned from 
captivity, he wrote the following letter to Mrs. Wallace, 
giving some additional facts of the battle and her husband's 
movements : 

"Corinth, Miss., June 29, 1862. 
"Mrs. W. H. L. Wallace, Madam : 

"I have recently returned to our lines from captivity in 
the South and take the liberty of thus addressing you in 
order to communicate some facts in reference to the late 
General Wallace. The desire which I feel to express to you 
my sincere regret at General Wallace's death, and the pre- 
sumption that any incidents of the action on the battlefield 
of Shiloh would prove of interest are my excuses for writ- 
ing. 

"Together with other officers of Major-General Smith's 
staff, as well as the General's own immediate aides, I was 
with him when he placed his division in position on Sunday 
morning. I had the honor of serving with him during the 
day and was riding in his company when he received the 
fatal wound from which he has since died. 

"Our division at the time was changing front, when Gen- 
eral Wallace, who was riding slowly immediately by the 
side of his men, was struck. A line of skirmishers from the 
enemy's forces was deployed on a ridge commanding the 
open space through which we were passing at the time, and 
my impression has always been that General Wallace re- 
ceived his death wound from one of these. He rose slightly 
in his saddle, uttered a brief exclamation of pain, and then 
fell apparently lifeless to the ground. I had supposed that 
he died immediately, but with a view of saving his body 
it was taken charge of by four men to be borne to the river. 
I afterwards ascertained they were obliged to leave the 
General, owing to the galling fire which was poured upon 
them by the enemy. 

"After my capture, having heard that the General was 
still on the field, I succeeded in finding his body, and re- 
mained with him until removed to the rear to join the other 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

prisoners. I found him still alive, and when I spoke to him 
he seemed conscious in a measure, but wholly unable to 
speak. Although obliged to leave him myself, yet a South- 
ern General who was present promised that his wounds 
should be dressed and every attention paid him. Since my 
return I have learned of his recapture and subsequent death. 

"Permit me, Madam, to express to you the deep regret 
with which I heard the last sad news, and to say chat the 
feeling of sorrow at the General's death is universal 
throughout the division which he that day commanded. 

You know that at Shiloh he led the troops of General 
Smith's division. He had been with us for only a short 
time previous to the battle, but possessed the perfect confi- 
dence of the division. His intrepid conduct at Donelson and 
the equally honorable history of his earlier life were famil- 
iar to us all, and he filled as successfully as any officer who 
could have been placed over the division the place vacated 
by the sickness of our commander, General Smith. 

"You have, of course, heard how gallantly General Wal- 
lace's command behaved that day and how often the enemy 
were repulsed from his line. Four regiments of our divi- 
sion, or rather their remnants after the losses of the day's 
severe fighting were, it is true, captured, but it was not until 
some time after the General himself had fallen, and our 
division had become separated by the want of co-operation 
incident upon his loss. He was shot at a most critical junc- 
ture, just as we were changing position. Had he escaped 
wounds that day the advantage to our cause cannot be too 
highly estimated. He fell about five o'clock, having pre- 
served his line through the entire day, and it is more than 
probable that had he survived, not only would the regiments 
of our division have been saved, but also those gallant men 
of General Prentiss' command, who were co-operating with 
us on the left, and who were captured at the same time 
with the men of our division. 

"General Wallace communicated frequently with General 
Prentiss during the day, their last interview having taken 
place about four o'clock. General Prentiss' impression was 
at that time, and he is of the opinion that it was General 
Wallace's also, that the right wing of the army was still 

[214] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

firm, and hence they decided to still maintain their ground 
from which the enemy had failed to drive them, the men 
being in excellent spirits. 

"The capture of General Prentiss and the death of Gen- 
eral Wallace have prevented a correct report of the actions 
of their respective commands from being made known, but 
I am sure that when the true history of Shiloh shall be 
written the chief glory of Sunday's fighting will rest upon 
them — upon General Prentiss, who, overwhelmed and out- 
numbered by the enemy, was driven from the first position, 
but rallied a portion of his command (composed though it 
was principally of raw troops) and taking position on our 
left, refused to retreat from a line he had been ordered to 
hold, and which he still believed tenable — and upon General 
Wallace who fell by the side of the men he had so gallantly 
led that day into action, whom he had protected by his skill, 
inspired by his presence and whom he had never seen falter. 
"In reference to General Wallace's high qualities as a 
man, aside from his distinguished ability as a soldier, it is 
not for me to speak ; but I may mention as another evidence 
of that generosity for which he was so well known, that on 
Sunday he gave regiment after regiment of his best troops 
to strengthen points which seemed to be more severely 
threatened than his own division. Into his military creed 
there entered no selfish principle ; when he fought it was not 
with a view to personal aggrandizement, but with the one 
patriotic aim for the success of our general cause. Like the 
brave General whom he succeeded in command, he scorned 
to seek reputation by the petty means by which some men 
endeavor to rise, and like him, his name has become a 
synonym of all that is true, gallant and soldierly. 

"Very respectfully yours, 
"William McMichael, 
"Assistant Adjutant-General to late Major-General Smith." 

When General Wallace fell he was but seventy-five feet 
away from the enemy and his commanding figure, dignified 
bearing, and utter disregard of self-preservation in the 
midst of the hurricane of danger around him, begat the ad- 
miration of his foes, so that General Leonidas Polk sent one 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

of his officers to ascertain who he was, as came out in the 
following correspondence sixteen years afterwards : 

"Savannah, Georgia, June 9th, 1878. 
"To THE Governor of Illinois, Springfield — Sir: 

"On the afternoon of the first day's fight at Shiloh 
(called by your side Pittsburg Landing) an officer was seen 
trying to stop his men from retreating, and when he found 
that he could not, he deliberately reined his horse and rode 
slowly ofif. He was shot, and he fell immediately from his 
horse. 

"General Polk expressed a wish to know who 'that brave 
man is.' I use his words, and I galloped up to the body and 
took from his coat breast-pocket the enclosed papers, prov- 
ing him to have been General W. H. L. Wallace of your 
State. These papers I sent to my home then in Sola, and 
I have only to-day found them among old papers. I beg 
to hand them to you with the request that you cause inquiry 
to be made for his family and return to them these papers 
taken from General Wallace's body for the purpose of find- 
ing out who the brave officer was who lost his life within 
seventy-five feet of us. 

"Though an enemy at the time we could not but respect 
him for the brave manner in which he acted when his com- 
mand was in retreat. He fell in a road, but we took his 
body up and moved it out of the way of cannon and caissons 
and I suppose that of course as the 'tide of battle' turned in 
your favor the next day, his body was recovered. I beg to 
say that if I could have found these papers before they 
should have been returned as they now have been. 

"I will be pleased to hear from you that this package has 
not only been received by you, but that you have found the 
family of General Wallace and have had the same delivered 
to their hands. I am, sir, yours respectfully, 

"M. R. TuNNO." 



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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

Governor Cullom to T. Lyle Dickey. 

"Executive Office, Springfield, Illinois, 

"June 27, 1878. 
Hon. T. Lyle Dickey, Dear Sir: 

"It gives me great pleasure to hand you herewith a let- 
ter from M. R. Tunno, Esq., of Savannah, Georgia, enclos- 
ing certain papers taken from the body of General W. H. 
L. Wallace at the time he fell on the field of Pittsburg 
Landing, with a request that you will forward them to his 
widow. 

"Mr. Tunno's account of the circumstances attending 
General Wallace's fall and the testimony he bears to his 
gallant conduct will be highly valued by his family. 

"Yours respectfully, 

"S. M. Cullom." 

Judge Dickey to his daughter, Mrs. Wallace: 

"Grand Pacific Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, 
"June 28th, 1878. 
"My Very Dear Daughter: 

"This morning while at breakfast I read in the Chicago 
Times of this date, the article headed 'A Reminiscence of 
Shiloh' relating to an incident attending the fall of your 
noble husband at that battle. I have this moment received 
the papers referred to with Tunno's letter to the Governor 
of the State and a letter from Governor Cullom to me. 

"I enclose to you herewith a slip cut from the newspaper 
containing the article referred to and the package sent by 
the Governor. 

"Everything connected with that dreadful hour is of in- 
tense interest to me as well as to you. 

"It seems strange to me that no other papers were found 
on his person, if it was in fact examined immediately after 
he fell. At this length of time the recollection of Mr. 
Tunno as to all the circumstances may not be entirely accu- 
rate. My recollection is that General Wallace, after he 
fell, was carried a short distance by Cyrus, assisted by some 
orderlies and then laid (not in the road) but by the roadside 
and near a tent, and that he was found by Cyrus on Monday 

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LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. W.\LLACE 

morning at the same place, but evidently cared for in some 
degree by the humane hand of some of the enemy. 

"I will write to Mr. Tunno at once in relation to his 
sword and watch. I think the probability is that Mr. Tun- 
no's account of what he saw and heard at the moment of 
Wallace's fall is strictly correct, but that by reason of the 
excitement of the hour it is not accurate as to time when 
the papers were taken from his person. That probably oc- 
curred after the fierceness of the action had subsided. Gen- 
eral Polk probably spent the night near where General Wal- 
lace lay wounded. 

"Your father, With much love, 

"T. Lyle Dickey." 

At the dedication of the new Supreme Court House, at 
Springfield, Illinois, Colonel Wood, of Effingham, made an 
address which was reported in the Chicago Legal News of 
February 15th, 1908, in which he refers to General W. H. 
L. Wallace as follows : "Wallace, a General in command 
of a division in the 'Hornet's Nest,' near the Shiloh Church, 
ended a faithful service to his country with his life. His 
trophies were a front line firmly maintained during a long 
day of bloody conflicts — a battlefield held — an army saved." 

General Wallace evinced such marked military ability his 
friends often speculated as to what his career might have 
been had he survived the battle of Shiloh. Many years 
after the war General Grant was asked by Captain Town, 
a surviving member of the old Eleventh Illinois infantry, 
what his opinion was of W. H. L. Wallace's ability and 
future. General Grant's answer was, "Had he lived, I 
would not be where I am now." 

When Mrs. Wallace went to Europe in 1869 President 
Grant gave her the following letter of introduction, which 
honors her no less than her husband. 

General Lew Wallace in his Autobiography speaks of 
General W. H. L. Wallace "as a man gallant as one may 
ever hope to encounter. And here I may as well answer 
a question often asked. I do not know of any relationship 
between Colonel W. H. L. Wallace and myself. I do know, 
however, that I should be very proud did such exist. Had 

[218] 



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o 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

he lived high rank was just ahead of him. He possessed 
all the elements of a great soldier," 

On Decoration Day, 1874, at Ottawa the Knights Temp- 
lar had charge of the day's services, which were very im- 
pressive. In the afternoon after the other exercises were 
finished they proceeded to the grave of General W. H. L. 
Wallace on the bluff near his late residence. "At the grave 
the flowery tribute as well as the solemn appearance and 
knightly bearing of the commandery was very imposing. 
Wreaths and bouquets were placed around the tomb by a 
delegation of young ladies, while the Knights so placed 
their flowers as to form a cross o'er the breast of their il- 
lustrious though fallen comrade. A beautiful white cross 
within a triangle of evergreens rested at the foot of the 
grave and a cross and crown decked the head of the grave 
of the departed hero." 

Then Hon. Washington Bushnell gave an eloquent eu- 
logy, which did honor to the heart and intellect of the living 
friend no less than the dead friend eulogized: 
"He is not dead but sleepeth." 

"Yes, 'he sleeps the sleep that knows no waking.' Look 
upon his grave ! Behold his tomb, but do not imagine that 
he is dead. A form so erect and manly may rest in the 
grave, but a spirit so noble cannot die. It is yet abroad 
working for good purposes and ends. Who remembers him 
but as kind and gentle, yet firm? Exalted in his manners 
and example, and pure in all his impulses? Look through 
this leafy grove. Can you not see him walking from that 
front door to yonder gate, with form erect, countenance 
beaming with kindness and flashing with thought and intel- 
ligence? Be not deceived, for looking again you see him 
not, for here he lies. 

"And here let me say to the widowed wife, lay aside 
your grief, forget your mourning, for what woman has had 
bequeathed to her a legacy so rich as the name and fame 
of him of whom I speak, and who yet liveth in spirit to 
comfort and protect you. 

"The inanimate form which this tomb confines was but 
a short time ago the abode of one of the purest patriotic 
hearts that ever honored our land. He was one of the first 

[2191 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

to volunteer in the Mexican war, and won unextinguishable 
honors as a brave officer in the First United States regi- 
ment. At the breaking out of the rebelHon he was the first 
of our citizens to offer his services to the Government. I 
need not detail his subsequent career, for it is as familiar 
as a household word. Mortally wounded upon the sixth of 
April, 1862, he died upon the tenth. Pittsburg Landing, 
how hallowed the name, how glorious, yet how sad, the sur- 
roundings ! Whether making friends in the social circle, or 
gathering laurels in legal contests ; whether carrying materi- 
als upon his shoulder up the bluff to beautify an early home, 
or wearing upon the same shoulder the glittering epaulets 
upon the field of strife and carnage to victory and ultimate 
death, yet he was Wallace ever, he was Wallace still. Oh ! 
how the hopes of true-hearted friends drooped, like these 
fading flowers upon his grave as they heard the mournful 
news ! Around his tomb to-day are thousands of those who 
knew him best and love him longest. To them and his 
country his death was a calamity, but to him it was a glo- 
rious fading into immortality. 

"Fearless and self reliant, open in dislikes, warm in 
friendship, he ever marched straightforward in the line of 
duty and truth. As a man to be judged in private life few 
were his equals. Never was lie charged with broken faith 
or violated trust. 

"And now at eventide as the shadows lengthen toward 
the East, where he loved to sit so well and from whence we 
have often obeyed his gavel call, let us turn again to the 
West and behold his sepulchre, fully realizing that the Grand 
Supreme Commander of the Universe has by His gavel 
called our comrade to his final and peaceful rest. Gentle 
neighbor, good friend, true patriot and noble hero, hail! 
and again farewell." 

As the concluding sentences of the eulogy were uttered 
the knights presented arms and with heads uncovered 
showed their appreciation of the dead hero. As the last 
word, "farewell" fell from the eloquent speaker the trick- 
ling tear and moistened eyes of the vast concourse of peo- 
ple told plainly of the love and respect which was gathered 
there to pay tribute to the memory of the fallen patriot. 

[220] 




THE DRAWING OF THE MEMORIAL WINDOW IN THE 
LIBRARY AT THE OAKS 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

After the ceremony at the grave the knights visited 
Mrs. Wallace at her residence and by words of comfort 
renewed the assurances of their sympathy. 

Some years before the Knights Templar had presented 
Mrs. Wallace with a beautiful oil painting of her husband 
— thus showing their respect and esteem for her no less than 
the loving memory held of her husband. 

For many years Mrs. Wallace had a desire to place a 
memorial window in the church at Ottawa in memory of 
her husband. She gave much thought to the subject, visit- 
ing many churches in her own country and in Europe. In 
the Glasgow cathedral she especially admired the stained 
glass where the windows are exceptionally fine. They are 
all memorials given in the years 1861-1863. A committee 
selected of Glasgow citizens recommended a uniform plan 
of illustration and harmonious treatment of the entire series 
of windows. The Royal Establishment of Glass Painting at 
Munich was selected to carry on the work, and many of the 
most eminent artists in Germany were the designers of the 
windows. One window especially interested Mrs. Wallace. 
It was the subject of the Resurrection, designed by Profes- 
sor Julius Hubner of Dresden, director of the Royal Gal- 
lery and one of the finest artists in Germany. She made a 
note of the name, and when two years later she visited Dres- 
den, called upon him, asking if he could suggest some artist 
to design a window for her. She told him she would like 
the subject of the Resurrection, but as her means were lim- 
ited she feared she could not have a design so elaborate. 

Professor Hubner became very much interested in her 
and her project and offered to undertake the work himself. 
As he would like to have some of his work in America, he 
would charge nothing for it, only for the mechanical part 
of the glass worker. His work consisted principally of 
large canvasses on historical and biblical subjects which 
hang on the walls of many public and private European gal- 
leries. Occasionally he made designs for memorial win- 
dows, some of which were placed in the chapels of the royal 
palaces near Dresden, to which he gave A-Irs. Wallace and 
her friends the entree to see his work and visit these inter- 
esting places. 

[2211 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

He made a most beautiful design of the Resurrection for 
Mrs. Wallace's window. There is the figure of the Christ 
with the angel holding open the tomb. On the halo around 
the Christ head is the text: "Grave, where is thy victory?" 
After the window was completed Professor Hubner made 
Mrs. Wallace a present of the drawing of the window, 
which she had incorporated into the book cases in the li- 
brary at her home in Ottawa. 

The window was placed in Christ Episcopal Church in 
1872. The lower section of the window represents the life 
of General Wallace in pictured scenes. It was executed un- 
der Mrs. Wallace's direction by a less renowned artist than 
Professor Hubner. The first scene is a log cabin represent- 
ing the childhood home with the date 1834 and the text: 
"That our garners may be full." The next scene, 1840, 
represents the student's life with table and books and the 
text : "Take fast hold of instruction." The third and cen- 
tral figure represents his profession, Justice with her scales 
and the text : "Teach me thy statutes." On a pillar to the 
right in this scene is a Masonic emblem showing his con- 
nection with that order. The next scene is the Mexican 
War in 1846, with the text : "Thou hast covered my head 
in the day of battle." The lower picture and last one is the 
river at Pittsburg Landing with boats and the smoke of 
the battle in the distance, and the riderless horse, with the 
text : "In the Lord I have put my trust. I will not fear 
what flesh can do unto me." In the right corner of this 
same picture is a beautiful oak tree in full vigor riven by 
lightning and broken in twain ; clinging to it is a vine with 
the text : "Thy will, not mine, be done." The oak tree rep- 
resenting the vigorous manhood cut down in his prime ; the 
vine, the woman's love remaining the same both in life and 
in death. 

Thus in beautiful stained glass is pictured the blessed 
truth of a risen life beyond the sorrows and disappoint- 
ments of this earthly life, where the noble deed of heroes 
and patriots find a reward more exalted than the plaudits 
of their fellow men, for a country saved in its entirety by 
noble self sacrifice and exalted patriotism. 

[222] 




BIOGRAPHICAL SECTION OF MEMOHIAI. WINDOW 



CHAPTER XXI. 
Mrs. Wallace. 

A FEW sketches are here added of Mrs. Wallace's life 
after the death of her husband, whose memory she 
cherished with devoted love. She did not retire from 
the world in selfish sorrow, but lived a brave, heroic and 
unselfish life, lightening the burden of others, thereby bring- 
ing joy into her own saddened life. 

During the war she made several visits to her relatives 
in the army and the following incident of one of these trips 
shows her quick presence of mind in an emergency. She, 
with her little daughter, had been spending the winter in 
Natchez, Mississippi, with the family of General Wallace's 
brother, Colonel M. R, M. Wallace, commandant of the 
post there, and were returning in the spring to their north- 
ern home. 

The steamer Luminary, on which they were passengers, 
tied up one day at a lonely place on the Mississippi river to 
take on wood ; and while they were engaged in loading, a 
band of Guerrillas rode out from the thick wood and 
opened a heavy fire on the boat. The rope that held the 
steamer to the landing was quickly cut and for greater safe- 
ty the boat made for the middle of the river. 

Mrs. Wallace's stateroom, with glass doors leading onto 
the deck, was on the side of the firing, so was in a very ex- 
posed position. Her first thought was for the little girl 
running about the deck, who, when told she must come in 
or the "rebels would shoot her," was very reluctant to do 
so, as she could not understand why the rebels wanted to 
shoot her, for she had been playing with them all winter 
and had encountered no harm. Her mother persuaded her 
with some force, placing her behind a trunk, then she hasti- 
ly took the mattresses from her bed and placed them against 
the glass doors making a protection that was perfectly bullet 
proof. 

In the saloon tables were overturned and fine ladies 

[223] 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

crouched tremblingly behind them. The boat soon steamed 
out of harm's way and went gallantly northward with no 
damage but many bullets imbedded in her wooden sides. 

In 1868 Mrs. Wallace with her daughter spent much 
time in Washington City at the home of her father, then 
Assistant Attorney General. While there she renewed the 
friendship made in war times with the families of General 
Grant and General Sherman. Mrs. Wallace was very un- 
assuming, but had the faculty of making and retaining 
friends. 

A long cherished wish of going to Europe was accom- 
plished the following year, President Grant and General 
Sherman both giving her letters of introduction. General 
Sherman's letter is here given, President Grant's having al- 
ready been given earlier in this volume. 

"Headquarters Army of the United States, 
"Washington, D. C, August 3, 1869. 
"Mrs. General W. H. L. Wallace, 
"Washington, D. C. 

"Dear Madam : — I learn that you propose soon to sail 
for France to spend a year or more, partly for the purpose 
of educating your child. I feel assured all you need there 
will be to have it known that you are the widow of one of 
our War Generals who fell in battle in the early part of the 
war. 

"Should you take up your residence in France you should 
see the Hon. E. B. Washburne, who would gladly provide 
you the necessary credentials. Or if you go to Germany I 
commend you to the special care of our Minister at Brus- 
sels, Mr. Jones, or to our Minister at The Hague, Holland, 
General Ewing, my brother-in-law. I know that either of 
these gentlemen will take pleasure in giving you the bene- 
fit of their official stations. 

"Wishing you health, happiness and a safe return to your 
family and friends. I am truly yours, 

"W. T. Sherman, General." 

Mrs. Wallace encountered friends wherever she went. 
In Paris was the Hon. E. B. Washburne of Illinois, who was 

[224] 




MRS. WALLACE, LST 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

kindness itself to Mrs. Wallace, and many other American 
ladies in the trying times of the Franco-Prussian war and 
the siege of Paris. Mr. Washburne won renown, honor 
and respect both from Germany and France, no less than 
from his own country, in the wonderful manner in which he 
conducted diplomatic affairs at this time. As the German 
Ambassador could not remain in Paris during this war, Mr. 
Washburne acted for the German Government along with 
his duties to his own country. He aided many a poor Ger- 
man to return to the Fatherland. 

It was Mr. Washburne who notified Mrs. Wallace of the 
near approach of the Prussian Army and that a quick exit 
from Paris was wise. On a day's notice she and her little 
girl left Paris for Brussels, the city of refuge for so many 
Parisian refugees. They left Paris none too soon to escape 
the horrors of that dreadful siege. They spent a year and a 
half in Germany, returning to their own country in 1872. 
Ten years later they crossed the Pacific ocean, spending two 
years in the sunny isles of the mid Pacific, Hawaii, where 
Mrs. Wallace's brother, C. H. Dickey, and sister, Mrs. C. H. 
Wallace, were residing. It was then foreign soil, but is 
now loyal American territory with a people to be proud of, 
with scenery and climate scarcely to be equaled on the 
globe's surface. 

Mrs. Wallace's life was one of great activity and variety, 
travel and change, but no one was more devoted to her 
home, her town or her friends. She loved to fill her house 
with guests, especially the young, and entertained with true 
Southern hospitality which had been born and bred in her. 

Ill health came to her in her later years, but her cheer- 
fulness and interest in everything around her never flagged. 
Even in the months of her last illness, helpless from a 
stroke of paralysis, her sweetness, amiability and cheeri- 
ness never forsook her, and when the end came in April, 
1889, she passed to her merited reward, to be reunited to 
the beloved gone on before. 

Hers was a rounded, beautiful life, a life of good deeds 
given from the overflow of a loving nature, not deeds that 
merited to be trumpeted abroad, but every-day kindnesses 



[2251 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF GENERAL W. H. L. WALLACE 

that sweeten daily life — a Samaritan to any who required 
her aid on life's highway. 

Members of the Grand Army Post and Sons of Veterans 
assisted in the burial of Mrs. Wallace. "After the services 
at the house the pall bearers raised the casket and pre- 
ceded by the officiating clergyman walked to the beautiful 
private cemetery * * * * where the last sad rites were 
performed and Martha Ann Wallace was laid with sadness 
to rest with those to whom in life she was so sincerely de- 
voted, and whose memory she so ardently cherished. Just 
as the last service was performed the setting sun shone 
brightly through the clouds, and the quiet of the evening 
seemed as a benediction to a pure and holy life." 



[226] 



o 



INDEX 



Adams, Charles Francis, 99 

Alysworth, J. H., 3 

Ampudia, General, 42; 45 

Armstrong, Geo. W., 85 

Army of the Centre, 13; of Occupa- 
tion, 14; of the Ohio, 188; of the 
Tennessee, 188; of the West, 13 

Arnold, I. N., 72; loi 

Artillery, Bragg's, 38; 42; 44; 45; 47 
First, 32; Fourth, 19; 32 
Houghtaling's Battery of, 137; 
McAllister's, 138; 151 
O'Brien, 47; Schwartz's, 137; 
Sherman's, 38; 44 
Taylor's Battery, 137; 151; 161; 

163; 174; 179; 182 
Washington's, 32; 43; 47; 49 

Avery, J., 169 

Baker, Col. Ned, 13 

Battles, of Belmont, 141; 142; 
Buena Vista, 40-54; Fort Donel- 
.son, 157-165; Fort Henry, 150- 
155; Shiloh, 188-196; 213-216 

Bell John, 87; 98 

Bestor, Geo. C, 85 

Beveridge, John L., 5; 11 

Bissel, Wm. H., 13; 44; 48; 75; 78; 79 

Blanco, Miguel, 23; 24 

Bloody Island, 14 

Borland, Major Solon, 35; 36; 68 

Bourneville, Major, 19; 32 

Bowman, Sam M., 180 

Bragg, Braxton, 19; 38; 42; 44; 46; 
47; 60; 191; 194 

Breckenridge, John C.,87; 195 

Browning, O. H., 148 

Brig Albertina, 18 

Buchanan, James, 71 

Buckner, Simon B., 77-79; 158 

Buell, Don Carlos, 171; 187; 188; 
191; 196 

Bushnell, Washington, 106; 169; 
174; 219-220 



Butler, Maj. Gen., 30; 33 

Button, Chaplain Chas., 183; 184; 

197 
Byron, . 18 

Cameron, Simon, 105 

Camps — Alton, 111., 13; 14 Aqua 
Nueva, Mex., 28; 38. Bird's 
Point, Mo., 122. Crockett, San 
Antonio, Tex., 19. Douglas, Chi- 
cago, 114; 203. Hardin, Villa 
Ridge, 111., no. LaEncantado 
Mex., 32. Mission de Conception, 
Texas, 19. Monclova, Mex., 22. 
Parras, Mex., 26. Presidio, Mex. 
21. San Juan de Buena Vista, 
o3\ 39; 55- Taylor, Saltillo, 
Mex., 40 

Caton, John Dean, 10; 61; 157; 
169; 183; 184 

Cavalry, A. W., 168 

Cavalry — Arkansas, 26; 33. Bur- 
ril's, 137. DeLano 's, 138. 
Fourth, 113; 150; 174; 180; 181. 
Kentucky, 19. Langen's, 137. 
Noleman's, 137; 140. Pfaff's, 
137. Second Illinois, 138. Ste- 
wart's, 137 

Champlain, J. C, 82; 119; 169; 171 

Cheatham, Gen. B. F., 195 

Cheever, S. W., 169 

Cherry Mansion, 197 

Churchill, Sylvester, 18; 30; 44; 57 

Clark, Chaplain, 203 

Coates, James H., 186 

Coffin, Charles C, 196 

Colman, Rev. Z., 205 

Comanches, 26; 27; 30 

Confederate States of America, 88 

Congressional Convention, 73; 82 

Cook, Col., 109 

Crittenden, Thos. L., 191 

CuUen, Wm., 60 

Cullom, Shelby M., 5; 217 



[227] 



INDEX 



Davis, David, 74-76; 83-85; 91 199; 

148; 178 
Davis, G. I., 160; 179; 192 
Davis, G. T. M., 21 
Davis, Henry Winter, 99 
Davis, JefJerson, 38; 71; 87; 88 
Dayton, Wm. L., 71 
Deer Park Glen, 11 
Dickey, Charlie H., no; 114; 166; 

180; 225 
Dickey, Cyrus E., 68; 95; 108; 114; 

122-125; 140; 166; 192; 196; 198; 

199; 202 
Dickey, James H., 64 
Dickey, John J., 183; 201 
Dickey, Juliet (Evans) 63 
Dickey, T. Lyle, 9; 13; 16; 20; 56; 

62; 73; 88; 90; 114; 151; 170; 

191; 199; 202; 217 
Divisions — First (McClernand's), 
188; 194 

Second (W. H. L. Wallace), 1S8; 

194; 195 
Third (Lew Wallace), 188 
Fourth (Hurlbut), 18S; 194 
Fifth (Sherman), 188; 191 
Sixth (Prentiss), 188; 191; 194; 

195 
Donelson, Capture of, Fort, 157-165 
Douglas, Stephen A., 57; 70; 79; 86; 

87; 90; 106; 108 
Douglas, Mrs. Stephen A., 90; 108 
Drummed from Regiment, 16 

Eames, Edward, 119 

Eames, Henry, 169 

Earl, Seth C, 164 

Ebarba, Don Manuel de, 26; 30; 55 

Eddy, T. M., 102; 106; 108; 126; 

196 
Erwin, William, 57; i68 
Ewing, J. S., 62 
Ewing, H. B., 224 
Evara, see Ebarba 

Farnam, J. H., 13 
Farwell, J. V., 5 
Fellows, S. M., 5; II 
Field order to Brigade Commanders, 
152 



Fillmore, Millard, 70 

Fisher, Helen, 165 

Flag of the Eleventh Illinois, 165; 166 

Floyd, John B., 158 

Foote, Commodore, 148; 154; 155; 

158; 167 
Fort, G. L., 92; 114 
Franklin, Lady, 89 
Fremont, John C, 70; 71; 75; 82; 

126; 129; 142 
French Explorers, 11 

Gains, Major, 35-37 

Gibson, Randall L., 194 

Gibson, Mrs. T. C, 117 

Gibson, Wm. L., 118 

Glover, J. O., 81; 169 

Goodell, Jennie (Matteson), 93; 

184 
Goodell, R. Eaton, 32; ^3; 93; 177; 
^183; 184 
Grant, Ulysses S., 7; 60; 134; 137; 

138; 151; 158; 166; 171; 176; 186; 

188; 189; 191; 192; 201; 218 
Gray, O. C, 169, 173 
Green, George, 40 
Gresham, Walter Q., 197 

Halleck, H. W., 137; 142; 149; 188; 

201 
Hanson, Roger, 167 
Hampton T., 169 
Hardee, Wm. J., 127; 128; 191 
Hardin, John J., 13; 19; 30; 32; 

42-49; 52; 53; no 
Harney, Wm. S., 19 
Haynie, I. N., 151 
Henry, Captain, 36; 37 
Henry, Fort, Capture of, 154; 155 
Herndon, Lieut., 131 
Herrick, Dr., ;:^3 
Henshaw, E. C., 169 
Hicks, Thos. H., 98; 99 
Hitt, Daniel F., 4 
Hitt, Martin, 4 
Hitt, Robert R., 5; 7 
Hitt, Samuel, 4; 9. 
Hitt, Thomas S., 4 
Hoes, J. V. A., 169 
Hollister, W. E., 169 



[228J 



INDEX 



Hornet's Nest, 193; 194; 218 
Hotchkiss, C. Y., 179; 204 
Hot Springs, Arkansas, 66; 67 
Hubner, Julius, 221 
Hurlbut, S. A., 174; 18S; 192 

mini Indians, 11 

Jackson, Andrew, 18 
Jones, J. Russel, 224 
Johnson, Bushrod, 158 
Johnston, Albert Sidney, 191; 
Johnston, Wm. Preston, 194 
Judd, Mrs. Norman B., 90 

Kearney, Philip, 13 
Knox, Joe, roi 

Lamme, Elizabeth, 2 

Lamme, James, 2 

Lamme, Mary, 2 

Lamon Hill, 84; 99; 116 

Larned, E. C, loi 

LaSalle County, Illinois. 2 

Lauman, Jacob D., 171 

Lawler, Col., 133 

Lee, Robert E., 19; 60 

Leland, L., 169 

Leland, P. K., 169 

Lincoln, Abraham, 9; 63; 76; 

80; 81; 87; 88; 90; 92; 98- 

103; 148 
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 81 
Lindley, Philo, 173 
Lovejoy, Owen, 72-76; 81-86; 

lOI 

Lurget, Mr., 123; 124 



79; 
loi; 



90; 



[37; 
1 88 



McArthur, Gen. John, 160; 19 
McCaleb, H. A., 164 
McClellan, Geo. B. 115; 164 
McClernand, John A., 133; 

139; 152; 160; 166; 171; 

192; 193 
McDaid, H. O., 6 
McDowell, John A., 191 
McCullough, Wm., 179 
McMichael, William, 192; 213-215 
McPherson, James B., 181 
Marsh, C. C., 151 



Masonic Order, 61 ; 204; 205; 208; 

219; 221 
Matteson, Joel, 93 
Memphis, Tenn., 16; 95; 96 
-194 Milligan, W. L., 61 

Minnion, General, 36 

Mississippi River, 14; Plantations 

on, 17 
Moore, A. B., 169 
Morgan, Captain, 18; 26 
Mount Morris Seminary, 4; 5; 7; 
194 Literary Societies, 5; 6; College, 

7 

Nash, J. F., 119; 169 

Nevius, Garrett, 164 

Newham, T. J., 192 

New Orleans, 13; St. Charles Hotel, 

17; 18 
North Western University, Evan- 

ston, 7 



O'Brien, Lieut., 42; 44; 48 
Occidental Lodge No. 40, 61 
Ogle County, Illinois, 3 ; Outlaws in, 

3; Regulators in, 3 
Oglesby, Richard J., 109; 112; 131; 

139; 160; 174; 180 
Osgood, Ori, 75; 77 
Osman, William, 19; 32; 38; 169 
Ottawa, Illinois, 9; 10 

Paddock, S. A., 93 

Paine, E. A., 109; 112 

Parker, H. M., 201 

Parks, James C, 10 

Pearson, Chaplain B. H., 163 

Pinckney, D. J., 8; 22 

Pillow, Gideon J., 127; 131; 138; 

158; 191 
Pine Creek Grammar School, 4 
Plummer, Joseph B., 138 
Political Parties, — Abolition, 70; 72- 

74; 83; 85. American or Know 

Nothing, 70; 78. A. P. A., 70. 

Democrats, 70; 74; 79; 85; 87. 

Free Soil, 70. Republican, 70; 

80; 84; 87. Conventions, 73; 

80; 84; 88. Whigs, 70; 75 
Polk, Mrs. James K., 171 
[229] 



INDEX 



Polk, Leonidas, ii6; 138; 142; 

191; 194; 195; 215; 216 
Pollock, James, 98 
Prentiss, B. M., 20; 26; 60; 112; 

129; 134; 188; 191-194; 214 

Quincy Riflemen, 18 

Rainy, Henry C, 202 

Ransom, T. E. G., 122; 140; 160; 
164; 198; 211; 212 

Rawlins, John A., 5; 7. 138 

Reedick, William, 169 

Reed, W. D., 189 

Regiments: — Arkansas, 19. First 
Illinois, 13; 15; 19; 21; 26; 33; 37; 
40; 42; 47. Second Illinois, 13; 15; 
19; 26; 34; 37; 42; 44. Second 
Iowa, 137. Third Illinois, 13; 
15; Fourth Illinois, 13; 15. Sev- 
enth Illinois, 109; 137. Seventh 
Iowa, 137. Eighth Illinois, 109; 
137. Ninth Illinois, 109. Tenth 
Illinois, 137. Tenth Iowa, 137. 
Eleventh Illinois, 108; no; 137; 
140; 150; 155; r6o; 163; 164; 167; 
171; 174. Eleventh Indiana, 161. 
Eleventh Missouri, 138; Seven- 
teenth Illinois, 138. Eighteenth 
Illinois, 139. Twentieth Illinois, 
137; 151; 174. Twenty-second 
Illinois, 137; Twenty-eighth, 137; 
Forty-fifth, 151; '174; Forty- 
eighth, 151; 174 

Reynolds, Elizabeth (Hitt), 4 

Richardson, W. A., 55; 57; 59 

Rock River Seminary, see Mt. 
Morris. 

Ross, Col., 174; 176; 185 

Ruggles, Daniel, 195 

Rumsey, Israel P., 153; 159-162; 
179; 180; 191; 192; 202 

Rumsey, John W., 191 

Rumsey, Julius, 202 

St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans, 18 

St. Louis, Missouri, 15 

Santa Ana, Gen, 25; 27-29; 34; 

38; 39; 41; 42; 45; 46; 51; 53^55 
Schermerhorn, Ed., in. 



Scott, Gen. Winfield, 13; 14; 32; 

34; 38; 94 
Schwartz, A., 153 
Seward, Wm. H., 89; 105 
Sherman, W. T., 19; 38; 44; 60; 

181; 188; 191; 195; 224 
Shields, James T., 15; 17; 21; 25 
Simpson, Alexander, loi 
Smith, Gen. C. F., 154; 174; 176; 

180; 181; 188; 213; 214 
Smith, I. E., 161 
Stanton, Edwin M., 7 
Starved Rock, 111., 2; 11 
Steamer Hanibal, 14 
Steamer Luminary, 223 
Stebbins, G. S., 169 
Stephens, Alexander, 88 
Stewart, Gen. A. P., 194 
Stewart, Gen. Dave, 193 
Stewart, John T., 148 
Strong, Cieo. C, 183-185; 202 
Sumner, Charles, 71; 74 
Sweeney, T. W., 192; 193 
Swett, Leonard, 80; 83; 88; 148; 

178 
Swift, H. M., 169 



Taylor, Captain, 171 
Taylor, Zachary, 14; 15; 25; 
28; 32; 34; 36; 38; 39; 41 

53; 55 
Templeton, Margaret (Dickey), 

197 
Thompson, Jeff., 127 
Tilgham, Llovd, 155 
Town, O.C, 218 
Trumbull, Lyman, 85 
Tunno, M. R., 216 
Tuttle, James M., 192; 193 



27; 
46; 

142; 



91; lOI 



Urbana, Ohio, 2 

Uncle Tom's Cabin, Mrs. Stowe' 

Walker, David, 169 

Wallace, Ann (Dickey), 9; 62 

89; 100: 106; 113; 118; 

129; 130; 134-136; 140; 

144; 147; 151; 156; 157; 

177; 182-187; 197-200; 

221; 223-226 



S73 



67; 
120; 
142; 
166; 
218; 



[230] 



INDEX 



Wallace, Caleb Hitt, 113; 199 
Wallace, Isabel, 69; 118; 145; 

146: 223; 224; 225 
Wallace, John, 2; 3 
Wallace, John F., 113 
Wallace, Gen. Lew, 158; 160-162; 

174; 189; 192; 196; 218 
Wallace, Martin R. M., 5, 113; 
181; 182; 199; 200; 202; 223 
Wallace, Matthew, 113; 153 
Wallace, Sarah (Hitt), 2; 4 
Wallace, V. Belle (Dickey), 67; 225 
Wallace, William, of Scotland, i 
Wallace, Wm. H. L., personal ap- 
pearance, I ; birth and ancestry, 
2; education, 3-8, 11; law stu- 
dent, 9; enters Mexican War, 13; 
quartermaster, 19; First Lieut, 
and Adjutant, 20; Judge .Advo- 
cate, 35; returns from Mexican 
War, 60; State's Attorney, 60; 
Masonic Fraternity, 61; nomina- 
tion for Congress, 63; marriage, 
64; religious connection, 64; 
political affiliation, 71 ; name men- 
tioned for Congress, 82. 85, 173, 
178; application for U. S. Dis- 
trict Attorney, 91; loi; at the 
inauguration of Lincoln, 99; 
enters Federal army, 105; camps 
at Villa Ridge, no; moves to 
Bird's Point, Mo., 122; in com- 
mand of brigade, 129; first ex- 
change of prisoners, 131; opinion 
of battle of Belmont, 141 ; dis- 
couraged at changes in command 
ing officers, 143, 144; Commodore 
Foote's opinion of, 148; wedding 



anniversary, 157; at Donelson, 
159-165; Pittsburg Landing, 174; 
receives commission as Brigadier 
General, 176; given command of 
a division, 180; at Shiloh, 188- 
192; last days, 197-200; Gen. 
Halleck's opinion of, 201; funeral 
202-205; Gen. Grant's opinion 
of, 218; Gen. Lew Wallace's 
opinion of, 218 

Wardlaw, Andrew, 82; 85 

Warren, John, 83 

Warren, Major, 14; 26; ;}t,; 39; 

41; 52; 55 
Washburn, Elihu B., loi; 224; 

225 
Washington, Captain, 19 
Waterman, E. L., 169 
Weatherford, Col., 16; 50; 51; 52; 

55 
Weed, Thurlow, 98 
Welden, Louis, 83; 91 
Wentworth, John, 85; 89 
Whitmore, Josh, 83 
Widmer, J. H., 109 
Williams, Archibald, loi 
Williams, Major, 19 
Winston, Major, 125 
Withers, Jones M., 195 
Worth, Wm. J., 28; 29; 32; 34; 38 
Wood, Benson, 218 
Wool, John E., 14; 15; 19; 24; 

25; 28; 30; 33; 35; 39; 53 
Wyeth, John A., 159 

Yates, Richard M., 58; 59 
Yell, Archibald, -^t,; 35; 45 
Young, Richard M., 58; 59 



[231] 



DEC 211909 



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